The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) hosted the 23rd National Maritime Search and Rescue (NMSAR) Board meeting on 10 November 2025 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, focusing on strengthening inter-agency coordination and enhancing India’s maritime safety framework.

The discussions centred on leveraging technology, modern communication systems, and real-time data sharing to improve operational efficiency and response time in search and rescue (SAR) missions across Indian waters.

During the meeting, the National SAR Awards for 2023–24 were presented to recognise exemplary contributions in maritime rescue operations:

MV He Yuan Shun 89, a Panama-flagged vessel, received the award in the Merchant Vessel category.

Indian Fishing Boat Kedarnath Bhole was recognised in the Fishing Boat category.

ICG Ship Rajveer received the award in the Government-owned SAR Unit category.

The Vessel Traffic System (VTS) of the Mumbai Port Authority and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) were jointly felicitated under the Ashore Unit category.

Director General S. Paramesh, Director General of the ICG and Chairperson of the NMSAR Board, presided over the session. He reaffirmed the ICG’s commitment to protecting lives at sea and highlighted the critical role of coordinated and efficient SAR operations as a key pillar of India’s maritime safety ecosystem.

The meeting saw participation from senior representatives of the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, ISRO, INCOIS, Airports Authority of India, and the Directorate General of Shipping, among others. Interactive sessions and technical presentations encouraged the exchange of best practices, reinforcing the collective mission to ensure safe and secure maritime operations.

The event underscored the ICG’s continuing efforts to build a robust, technology-driven, and collaborative SAR network across India’s maritime domain.