The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) conducted a regional pollution response exercise, RPREX-2025, off Mumbai’s coast on Friday, aimed at enhancing India’s maritime environmental safeguards. This initiative is timely, given the rising maritime trade in the Indian Ocean, which increases the likelihood of catastrophic oil spills. As the primary authority for marine pollution response, the ICG designed this exercise to ensure a coordinated and efficient reaction to potential disasters.
RPREX-2025 was a multi-agency operation emphasizing shared responsibility, acknowledging that oil spills become more challenging and costly to manage once they reach shore. A notable aspect of the exercise was the collaboration with commercial and state partners. The operation unfolded in two phases: an initial planning conference on December 18, followed by a full-scale live sea exercise on Friday, testing personnel, equipment, and communication.
The simulation involved a distress call from a motor tanker that had collided with a fishing boat, leading to a significant oil spill. In response, the ICG deployed specialized pollution control vessels equipped with advanced recovery technology. Key stakeholders, including ONGC and the Mumbai Port Authority, also contributed their oil spill response vessels, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the exercise.
The involvement of various entities, including the forest department’s mangrove cell and local police, highlighted the importance of integrating local livelihoods and security into the response plan. The ICG emphasized that effective oil pollution management requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders, successfully validating the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP).
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