Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres

• 10 Dec 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Recently, a joint rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (MSA) successfully saved 12 crew members from the sunken Indian vessel MSV Al Piranpir in the North Arabian Sea.  

• This joint effort highlighted the critical role of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) of both nations, which maintained seamless communication throughout the humanitarian search and rescue operation. 

What are the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres? 

• About MRCC: MRCC is a unit responsible for promoting efficient organisation of Search and Rescue (SAR) services at sea and coordinating the conduct of M-SAR operations within a Search and Rescue Region (SRR). 
  • The MRCCs in India are specialized units within the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). 
• Search and Rescue Region (SRR): SRR is an area of defined dimensions associated with an MRCC within which SAR services are provided. The Indian Coast Guard coordinates SAR missions in the Indian Maritime Search and Rescue Region (ISRR). 
  • The Indian SRR is divided into three areas, each with an MRCC in Mumbai, Chennai, and Port Blair.  
• SAR Cooperation:  
  • Related Conventions (ratified by India):  
    • International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) 1979  
    • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982  
    • International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 
  • Other Initiatives: 
    • India’s SAGAR Vision 
    • Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC): It is a framework aimed at enhancing capacity to combat piracy in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. 
      • India, Japan, Norway, the UK and the USA hold the observer status. 

 

Indian Coast Guard 

• ICG was established by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India. 
  • It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency under the Ministry of Defence. It is headquartered in New Delhi. 
  • The blueprint for a multidimensional Coast Guard was conceived by the visionary Rustamji Committee 1974.  
• ICG Duties for SAR: Related to SAR, the Coast Guard charter of duties includes:  
  • Providing protection to fishermen including assistance to them at sea when in distress. 
  • Safety of life and property at sea  
  • Search and Rescue at sea  
  • Enforcement of Maritime laws at Sea 
• The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard serves as the National Maritime SAR Coordinating Authority (NMSARCA).

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q1. Elephant Pass, sometimes seen in the news, is mentioned in the context of the affairs of which one of the following? (2009)

(a) Bangladesh 

(b) India

(c) Nepal

(d) Sri Lanka

Ans: (d)

Q. Consider the following pairs: (2019)

Sea Bordering          Country

1. Adriatic Sea :              Albania 
2. Black Sea :                  Croatia 
3. Caspian Sea :             Kazakhstan 
4. Mediterranean Sea :   Morocco 
5. Red Sea :                     Syria 

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only 

(b) 1, 3 and 4 only 

(c) 2 and 5 only  

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: (b)

Q. The Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries? (2017)

1. Jordan 
2. Iraq 
3. Lebanon 
4. Syria 

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only  

(b) 2 and 3 only  

(c) 3 and 4 only 

(d) 1, 3 and 4 only 

Ans: (c)