To further strengthen the Indo-US naval cooperation, neighbouring countries from the Indian Ocean region were included as observers this year in the Multi-National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-03) conducted off Chennai. The participating units were INS Sukanya, CGS Varaha, USS Curts, Seaking and US Orion aircraft. Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and Madagascar partici-pated in the exercise.

The aim of the exercise was to promote coordination between maritime and aeronautical search and rescue operation of littoral states in the Indian Ocean. It was conducted by Cmde T Hari, Naval Officer-in-Charge on behalf of the FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command.

The exercise was based on a realistic setting planned and scheduled by the Naval Headquarters. According to the setting, CGS Varaha patrolling in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Chennai had a major fire and flooding. The Maritime Reconnaissance and Rescue Centre manned by Indian Coast Guard and Maritime Operation Centre of Navy in Chennai received the distress signal from CGS Varaha. Maritime Operation Centre, directed USS Curts, leaving Chennai port and Orion aircraft to assist Varaha, 150 miles away at sea. INS Sukanya deployed on routine patrol duty in the Bay of Bengal also received the distress signal and immediately launched a Seaking helicopter for search and rescue operations.

Within two hours after receipt of instruction from Maritime Operation Centre, Orion reached overhead CGS Varaha and ascertained the situation on board, which was communicated to Curts and Sukanya. Meanwhile, Seaking arrived over Varaha and evacuated two casualties from the ship. To save time, the helicopter routed directly to Chennai after getting refulled enroute from Curts, which was proceeding to the distress area from Chennai port. Orion remained over Varaha and maintained communcia-tion with participating units. Later, Orion guided Curts to reach Varaha. The exercise at sea ended with a display of rescue and damage control procedures by the personnel of USS Curts after boarding Varaha. Earlier, a seminar on research and rescue opera-tions was also held on the occasion.