Gandhinagar, November 10, 2025: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully organised the 23rd National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board Meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, reaffirming India’s commitment to ensuring safety of life at sea.
As the nodal agency for coordinating maritime and aeronautical search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Indian Search and Rescue Region (ISRR), the ICG plays a vital role in India’s maritime safety framework.
The meeting was chaired by Director General S Paramesh, AVSM, PTM, TM, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard and Chairperson of the NMSAR Board. In his address, DG Paramesh reiterated the collective resolve to safeguard lives at sea and emphasised that efficient and coordinated SAR operations are the cornerstone of India’s maritime safety architecture.
National SAR Awards 2023–24 Presented
During the meeting, National Search and Rescue (SAR) Awards for 2023–24 were presented to recognise outstanding contributions in saving lives at sea.
- MV He Yuan Shun 89, a Panama-flagged merchant vessel, received the award in the Merchant Vessel category.
- The Indian Fishing Boat Kedarnath Bhole was honoured in the Fishing Boat category.
- ICG Ship Rajveer won in the Government-owned SAR Unit category.
- The Vessel Traffic System (VTS) of Mumbai Port Authority and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) jointly received recognition in the Ashore Unit category.
Focus on Enhanced Coordination and Technology
The 23rd NMSAR Board meeting focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination and promoting technological integration to strengthen India’s SAR capabilities. Discussions covered leveraging modern communication systems and digital tools to improve operational efficiency and maritime safety standards.
Since its inception, the Indian Coast Guard has conducted 4,203 SAR missions, saving 11,805 lives and executing 495 medical evacuations—equivalent to one life saved every alternate day. In the past year alone, the ICG carried out 119 missions, rescuing 108 lives and performing 14 medical evacuations.
Stakeholder Participation
The meeting witnessed participation from key national stakeholders, including representatives from the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, ISRO, INCOIS, Airports Authority of India, and Directorate General of Shipping, among others. Interactive sessions and presentations facilitated the exchange of best practices and strategies to further enhance maritime safety and coordination.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared commitment among all agencies to ensure safer, faster, and more effective response mechanisms for saving lives at sea.
