Port Blair, April 25: Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar arrived at Port Blair, on successful completion of its Overseas Deployment (OSD) to the ASEAN countries, namely Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. The ship’s deployment to the Southeast Asian nations is in pursuance of Indian-ASEAN Initiative for Marine pollution announced in the year 2022 in Combodia during the ASEAN Defence Minister Plus Meeting. The visit not only showcased India’s commitment to maritime security but also fostered closer ties with regional partners.

During its overseas deployment, the ICGS Samudra Paheredar undertook a range of activities including capacity building exercises. These activities aimed to enhance maritime domain awareness, combat illegal activities at sea and promote interoperability among the Coast Guard of the participating nations.

Notably, six Jt-Services personnel and ten Naval NCC (National Cadet Corps) cadets from Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeye Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) Port Blair were part of the overseas deployment onboard ICGS Samudra Paheredar. Their participation highlighted the importance of fostering maritime awareness and skills among youth and preparing them for future challenges in the maritime domain. The NCC cadets joined hands with

CG personnel and undertook walkathon and cleanship drives at Manila and Brunei as a part of Puneet Sagar Abhiyaan. The involvement of Naval NCC cadets in the OSD provided them with invaluable hands-on experience and exposure to real world maritime operations. The deployment also served as a testament to the commitment of Indian Coast Guard to nurture and mentor the next generation of maritime leaders.