Indian Coast Guard (ICG) organised the 23rd National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting on Nov 10, 2025 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The meeting focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination and collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen India’s overall search and rescue (SAR) framework.
Discussions centred on leveraging technology and modern communication systems to improve operational efficiency and maritime safety standards.
National SAR awards for the year 2023-24 were also presented during the meeting. Following are the awards:
MV He Yuan Shun 89, a Panama-flagged vessel, received the award in the Merchant Vessel category
Indian Fishing Boat Kedarnath Bhole was awarded in the Fishing Boat category
ICG Ship Rajveer received the award for the Government-owned SAR Unit category
Vessel Traffic System (VTS), Mumbai Port Authority and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) were jointly felicitated in the Ashore Unit category.
Director General S Paramesh Director General, ICG and chairperson of the NMSAR Board, presided over the meeting. He reaffirmed ICG’s collective resolve to safeguard lives at sea and underscored the importance of efficient SAR operations as a cornerstone of India’s maritime safety architecture.
The meeting was attended by representatives from key maritime and aviation stakeholders including 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 ideas and best practices, reaffirming the shared commitment to ensuring safer and more secure maritime operations.