Bhubaneswar: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Thursday conducted a sea-based drill off the Paradip coast to assess its response capability and operational readiness for maritime emergencies.The drill saw the deployment of 15 ICG ships, three Dornier aircrafts, three advanced light helicopters, a Chetak helicopter, Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J and Mi-17 aircraft, and two Indian navy ships. Together, they simulated a complex maritime emergency involving a crashed aircraft in the sea and a subsequent mass rescue operation.The national search and rescue exercise (SAREX)-2026 required rapid mobilisation of assets and seamless coordination among multiple agencies. Key operations included activation of an incident command post, fire-fighting, helicopter-based evacuation of survivors, deployment of life rafts and air-droppable life rafts, rescue basket operations, scramble-net procedures, and demonstrations of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capabilities.Specialised rescue systems such as the Jason Cradle and Gemini recovery system, designed to retrieve persons from the water in a horizontal position, were also deployed during the drill.“The exercise helped validate standard operating procedures, identify operational gaps and incorporate lessons into future search-and-rescue planning,” an ICG official said.According to officials, the exercise underscored the importance of technology-enabled search and rescue, real-time information sharing, enhanced maritime domain awareness and swift mobilisation of resources while responding to complex maritime emergencies.The exercise brought together a range of maritime and aviation stakeholders to demonstrate interoperability and coordinated response during large-scale emergencies at sea. Participating agencies included the ICG, Indian navy, Indian Air Force, shipping corporation of India, directorate general of shipping, fisheries department, customs, marine police, Paradip port authority and Odisha govt units.Officials said the exercise highlighted the need for closer coordination among maritime and aeronautical agencies to strengthen preparedness for mass rescue operations.Over the past five decades, the ICG has undertaken 4,390 search-and-rescue missions, saved 11,897 lives and facilitated 530 medical evacuations.