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Taking India’s accession to SAR convention 1979 and its implementation as a back drop, the requirement of conducting an International Maritime Conference on Search and Rescue by the Coast Guard was felt for providing the necessary impetus for Regional and International cooperation in SAR operations and to take the lead role in conducting maritime SAR operations within and outside the Indian Search and Rescue Region.
In continuing pursuit of the Coast Guard’s motto ”We Protect”, an international conference was conducted at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 11-12 Mar 2008 to promote awareness amongst seafarers and policy maker alike, on the importance, the Coast Guard places for safety of life and property at sea.
The main aim of the conference was “to foster bonds of friendship amongst IOR countries and build professional linkages on Maritime Search and Rescue Operations”. In addition, the conference was aimed to make it known to the maritime community globally, of the capability of the Indian Coast Guard for maritime SAR and the ongoing efforts it places for the safety of seafarers and fishermen.
Eminent speakers from International Organisations and Coast Guards were invited to deliberate upon the relevant contemporary SAR issues and International Convention Laws.
Other international delegates were invited to speak on the recent achievements in SAR operations and strides taken by their countries in the establishment of a framework and infrastructure for coordination of maritime Search and Rescue operations within and outside their SRR. SAR issues related to fishing boats and the efforts taken by the scientific community were also deliberated during the conference.
Conference
The International maritime Search and Rescue Conference (IMSARCON-2008) was formally inaugurated by Shri AK Antony, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. The inaugural session commenced with the opening address delivered by the Director General Indian Coast Guard and National SAR Board Chairman, Vice Admiral RF Contractor, AVSM, NM. Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, Chief of Naval Staff delivered the Keynote Address which was followed by Special Address by Shri MM Pallam Raju, Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence. Shri AK Antony in his inaugural address brought out the importance that India attaches to the safety of seafarers and security of sealanes and appreciated the cooperation extended by the neighboring states during the rescue operations and stated that cooperative measures have stronger potential in keeping the large sea areas much safer.
International Participants
Representatives from following organizations participated:
(a) Bangladesh Coast Guard (b) China Maritime Safety Administration (c) Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Sri Lanka (d) Department of Marine Administration, Myanmar (e) Department of Sea and Coast Guard, Indonesia (f) Japan Coast Guard (g) Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (h) Maldives National Defence Force (j) Marine Department, Min. of Transport, Thailand (k) Maritime Port Authority, Singapore (l) Mauritius Coast Guard (m) Maritime Security Agency, Pakistan (n) Seychelles Coast Guard (p) Srilankan Navy (q) Royal Oman Police Coast Guard, Sultanate of Oman
International Organisations
(a) COSPAS-SARSAT (b) International Maritime Organisation(IMO) (c) World Maritime University (WMU)
National Participants
(a) Airport Authority of India (b) Chief Hydrographer, Govt. of India (c) Department of Telecommunications (d) Department of Space (INMCC/ISRO) (e) Department of Customs and Exercise (f) Department of Meteorology (g) Indian Navy (h) Indian Air Force (j) Representative of DG(Shipping) (k) Representative of Coastal States (l) Representative of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (m) Representative of Fishing Community (n) Representative of Immigration (p) Representative of Major Ports (q) Representative of Shipping Industry (r) Representative of Sailing Vessel Operators (s) Representative of Observer Research Foundation
Topics Covered: 13 Speakers presented paper over 05 session followed by question and answer session. Various topics covered during International Maritime Search and Rescue Conference (IMSARCON-2008) are listed below:-
Session-I: Maritime Law
¨ International Maritime SAR and GMDSS – Mr. G Mapplebeck, IMO
¨ Rescuing Refugees at sea: Law and Policy Implications – Cdr Dr. Max Mejia, World Maritime University
Session-II: Regional Co-operation
¨ Regional co-operation for SAR in the vicinity of Japan by Cdr Koji Tsuchiya, Japan Coast Guard
¨ SAR in Bangladesh : An Overview by Capt A Rehman, Bangladesh Coast Guard
¨ SAR infrastructure in India and Regional Cooperation: A Re-look by Comdt. D Michael
¨ China Maritime Safety Administration : A perspective by Zhi Guanglu, China Maritime Safety Administration
Session-III: Contemporary Issues in MSAR
¨ SAR Efforts on Un-seaworthy ships by Capt Rakesh Awasthi, Directorate General of Shipping, India.
¨ Disaster mitigation and SAR in India : An overview by Cmde (IN Retd) RS Vasan, Observer Research Foundation
¨ Singapore Search and Rescue (SAR) System by Capt Daniel Yen, Maritime Port Authority, Singapore
Session-IV: SAR for Traditional Fishermen
¨ SAR for Traditional Fishermen by Mr JW Rathnayaka, Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources, Sri Lanka
¨ Development of Low cost SAR Beacon for fishermen by Mr Satyanarayana, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO
Session-V: Satellite Communication and SAR
¨ False Distress Alerts : Regulation and Remedy by Mr SK Shivakumar, Indian Mission Control Centre
¨ Cospas-Sarsat : Present and Future by Mr D Levesque, Cospas-Sarsat
Photographs
Conference Declaration
RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE ORGANISED BY THE INDIAN COAST GUARD ON 11-12 MARCH 2008 AT NEW DELHI, INDIA
The 2008 New Delhi Conference on Maritime Search and Rescue.
RECALLING the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(1982) obliging every coastal State to cooperate with neighboring States, if so required, by way of mutual regional arrangements to promote the establishment, operation and maintenance of an adequate and effective Search and Rescue service
RECALLING FURTHER the provisions of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue(1979) recommending neighboring States to enter into agreements regarding the pooling of resources, establishment of common operating procedures, conduct of joint training and exercises, regular checks of inter-state communication channels, liaison visits by rescue co-ordination center personnel and the exchange of search and rescue information
RECOGNISING maritime safety as a common trans-boundary challenge to Search and Rescue organisations in the Indian Ocean region
RECOGNISING FURTHER the continuing challenges to coastal States in the Indian Ocean region in implementing the provisions of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue
RECOGNISING ALSO that vessels under twelve meters are not covered by any international safety legislation
RECOGNISING BESIDES the immense potential for enhanced capacity building and mutual cooperation assistance between coastal States in the Region
1. URGES the coastal States in the Indian Ocean region and other friendly coastal states to adopt a shared commitment to improving maritime safety
2. URGES FURTHER the coastal States in the Indian Ocean region and other friendly coastal states to:
(a) promote greater cooperation in addressing and enforcing maritime safety initiatives
(b) promote seamless exchange of Search and Rescue information and experience
(c) encourage sharing of information about weather and impending disasters including tsunami, cyclones and earthquakes
(d) encourage participation of vessels under flag in established ship reporting systems
(e) establish and promote mutual professional relationships at all levels of the search and rescue services
(f) adopt and exercise common operating procedures for responding to contingencies at sea
(g) promote sharing of expertise on technological measures for maritime Search and Rescue
(h) consider equipping of vessels less than twelve meters in length with low cost distress alerting device such as beacon developed by India
3. INVITES FURTHER the attendant IMO representative, to apprise the Secretary General of the IMO about this conference and the agreed recommendations.
Conclusion
The conference achieved its stated aim of “Safer Seas Through Cooperation” and made the SAR authorities of various countries to understand that the future issues related to SAR will be required to be addressed through a network of coordinated operations which will involve multi RCC interaction, online sharing of data, remote search capabilities and rescue assurance. This conference has been a step towards the future efforts and Indian Coast Guard extends its sincere thanks and gratitude for all delegates, speakers and other attendees in making this conference a great success. |
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© 2008 Indian Coast Guard , Ministry Of Defence, Government Of India, |