Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director-General Paramesh Sivamani inaugurated the 27^th edition of the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan meeting and the 10^th National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) here on Sunday (October 5, 2025). The two-day event includes an ocean exercise off the Chennai coast on Monday (October 6, 2025).

“The NATPOLREX-X exercise is a demonstrated commitment of the ICG to ensure that all the regional partners, friendly foreign countries, and the Indo-Pacfic are well prepared and geared to meet any contingency which might arise due to the spillage of oil at sea. The Coast Guard takes great pride in ensuring that the maritime frontiers and our seas and oceans remain clean for future generations to enjoy the oceans,” said Mr. Sivamani.

“The magnitude of any oil spill event whether within our waters or beyond, demands swift, coordinated and decisive action. This is not the responsibility of one nation alone but a collective imperative. NATPOLREX stands as a living example of this philosophy,” he added.

The meeting saw participation from 40 foreign observers and more than 100 national delegates from various Ministries, State and Central agencies, ports, and oil handling organisations. The New Mangalore Port Authority got the Samudri Paryavaran Sanrakshan Trophy, while ONGC (Western Offshore) was honoured with the Tel Udyog Samudri Paryavaran Sanrakshan Trophy for their environmental protection efforts.

Discussions centred on strengthening oil spill response readiness with an emphasis on increased coordination and adoption of international best practices. The Coast Guard will also demonstrate its preparedness through a live exercise featuring ships, aircraft configured for maritime pollution control and other pollution response assets.