Western Naval Command holds security exercise off Mumbai coast

The Navy's Western Naval Command Tuesday carried out an offshore security exercise off the Mumbai coast to increase coordination among various maritime stakeholders.

Performed under codename Prasthan, the joint exercise aimed to integrate stakeholders including the Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department and marine police to refine standard operating procedures (SOPS) for contingencies that could occur in the Offshore Development Area (ODA), a statement said.

Contingencies such as terrorist intrusion, bomb explosion, major fire, oil spill, casualty evacuation, cyclone warning, mass evacuation and abandoning ship were exercised, the Navy said.

It provided a realistic scenario for all stakeholders to assess readiness to respond to and combat contingencies in the Western ODA, as also to operate together in a coordinated manner, the Navy said.

It was carried out under aegis of Western Naval Command and was conducted on Heera platform of ONGC, located about 36 nautical miles west of Mumbai, the Navy said.