Coast Guard Holds Oil Spill Response Drill Off Odisha Coast

Bhubaneswar: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Wednesday conducted a large-scale deep-sea pollution response exercise off the Paradip coast in Odisha, deploying five frontline vessels to assess preparedness and response mechanisms against potential oil spills and marine pollution incidents.

The exercise simulated emergency scenarios involving accidental oil leakage from ships and other maritime sources, focusing on swift detection, containment, recovery and shoreline protection. It was aimed at evaluating operational readiness, response time and inter-agency coordination to safeguard the fragile marine ecosystem along Odisha’s coastline.

According to Coast Guard officials, the drill covered the entire pollution response chain—from early detection at sea to coordinated containment and recovery operations under deep-sea conditions. Specialised ICG vessels, Dornier surveillance aircraft and advanced pollution response equipment were deployed to demonstrate real-time operational capabilities.

A key highlight of the exercise was the integration of aerial surveillance with surface operations, showcasing coordination between aircraft and ships during marine pollution response missions. Pollution response vessels operated by Paradip Port Authority also took part, underlining close coordination between the Coast Guard and port authorities during environmental emergencies.

The participating Coast Guard ships included ICG Vijay, ICG Varad, ICG Amogh, ICG Adamya and ICG Charlie. The multi-platform deployment was designed to replicate complex operational challenges and test the effectiveness of pollution control measures under varying maritime conditions.

The Coast Guard said the exercise was not only intended to enhance emergency response preparedness but also to raise awareness about its mandate in protecting the marine environment. From deep-sea containment operations to shoreline protection, the drill demonstrated measures aimed at preventing long-term ecological damage from maritime pollution.

Officials added that such exercises will be conducted regularly to strengthen pollution response capabilities and ensure swift and effective action during any maritime environmental emergency.