Navy conducts offshore security exercise 'Prasthan'

A two-day offshore security exercise named 'Exercise Prasthan' was conducted by the city-based Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
The exercise which was conducted on offshore rigs in the KG Basin and Ravva area located in the Krishna Godavari Basin 25 nm South West of Kakinada concluded today, a Naval release said.
Mock drills to exercise various contingencies such as asymmetric threat (terrorist action), oil spill, casualty evacuation and fire were conducted, it added.
The exercise was aimed to evaluate surveillance capabilities of offshore rigs against unaltered intruders approaching by boat / swimming and to evaluate capabilities of security agencies in patrolling to prevent intruders from accessing offshore rigs, said the release.

The exercise also prepared all agencies in handling a crisis situation developing in the Offshore Development Area.
Besides Naval Officer-in-Charge, Andhra Pradesh, the overall coordinator of the Exercise, the other major stakeholders included Indian Coast Guard, ONGC, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC), Reliance Industries and Cairn Energy.
In addition, Navy ships Kora, Tarmugli, Astradharini, four ISVs, One Indian Coast Guard IPV/IB, one UH3H helicopter and marine commandos also participated in the exercise,the release added.