Kochi, Jul 23 (PTI) Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, concluded at the Southern Naval Command here on Thursday, a Defence spokesperson said.
Conducted by the Indian Navy in partnership with the Combined Maritime Forces under the aegis of the Southern Naval Command and the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), the exercise brought together 276 personnel from 27 countries, supported by 76 facilitators and subject matter experts, with participation from four international organisations, a statement said.
The closing ceremony on Thursday featured an address by Commodore Milind M Mokashi, SC, Commander, CTF 154, presentation of certificates to facilitators, and a valedictory address by the Chief Staff Officer (Training).
According to the Defence spokesperson, the programme brought together maritime security, legal and operational perspectives through professional discussions, simulator-based instruction and practical training.
The sessions covered Maritime Domain Awareness and Information Sharing, Maritime Law, Counter-Narcotics, Force Protection Measures, Asymmetric Threats, Maritime Uncrewed Systems and Operational Sea Training, the statement said.
The domain-specific training was delivered through inputs from the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region, CMF entities such as the Joint Maritime Information Centre, and specialist international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, the spokesperson said.
“Participants underwent practical training in damage control and firefighting, maritime communications, survival at sea and boarding procedures, besides sea training onboard an Indian naval ship. The activities provided opportunities for participants to exchange experiences and best practices, contributing to greater understanding among maritime services and organisations,” the statement said.
The engagement strengthened interoperability, professional networks and operational confidence among the participating nations.
“It contributed to regional capacity-building and collective maritime security by combining theoretical understanding with hands-on training. The four-day engagement generated 3,800 training man-hours. The exercise showcased the Indian Navy’s modern training infrastructure, state-of-the-art simulators, advanced instructional methodologies and professional expertise,” the spokesperson said.
The successful conduct of the exercise reinforced the Indian Navy-CMF partnership and underscored the Indian Navy’s leadership of CTF 154, while highlighting the Southern Naval Command’s role as a leading training hub and preferred destination for professional maritime training, the statement added. PTI TBA SSK
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