Bhubaneswar: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will showcase its maritime prowess by simulating real-time mid-sea emergencies and large-scale rescue operations by mobilising its advanced assets off Odisha’s Paradip coast on Thursday.The exercise, a first-of-its-kind sea-based drill on Odisha’s coast, forms part of Coast Guard’s biennial National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) 2026 and was inaugurated by Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.“SAREX is designed to test and strengthen the nation’s coordinated response mechanism during maritime emergencies by bringing together maritime, aviation and civil agencies on a common platform,” Seth said. The minister said such exercises enhance preparedness, improve interoperability and ensure a swift, effective response when lives are at stake at sea.ICG director general Paramesh Sivamani described SAREX-2026 as one of the largest and most complex search-and-rescue (SAR) exercises conducted in the region. The drill will feature 15 Coast Guard ships, two Dornier aircraft, three advanced light helicopters (ALHs), a Chetak helicopter, Indian Air Force C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft, two Indian Navy ships, besides state and civil assets and shore-based support units. The exercise has also attracted significant international interest, with 32 observers from 30 countries participating.Chairing the national maritime search and rescue (NMSAR) board meeting here, Sivamani said the future of SAR operations would depend on greater technological integration, real-time information sharing and seamless collaboration among multiple agencies. “Maritime search and rescue is evolving rapidly. Enhanced vessel tracking, robust distress-alert management, data-driven decision-making and faster mobilisation of response assets will be critical to improving outcomes during emergencies,” he said.The NMSAR board, the apex national body for reviewing preparedness across India’s 4.6 million sq km Search and Rescue Region, deliberated on measures to strengthen both national and international SAR frameworks.Officials noted that maritime emergencies often transcend geographic boundaries and require close coordination among rescue coordination centres, maritime safety agencies and stakeholders across countries to ensure a timely and effective response.