Amid tensions in the South China Sea, the Indian Coast Guard ship, Samudra Paheredar, has docked at Manila Bay in the Philippines. This is part of a larger effort by the Indian Coast Guard to showcase its capabilities in marine pollution response, as announced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in an official statement on Tuesday.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship, which arrived at the port on Monday, is currently deployed overseas to ASEAN countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei from March 25th to April 12th, 2024.

This deployment marks the third consecutive one by the Indian Coast Guard to ASEAN countries. In 2023, earlier in the year, ICG Pollution Control Vessels visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia as part of a similar initiative.

During its deployment, the ship is scheduled to make port calls in Manila (Philippines), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), and Muara (Brunei).

“Indian Coast Guard ship Samudra Paheredar, a specialized Pollution Control Vessel, arrived at Manila Bay, Philippines on 25 March 2024 on a three-day visit. The visit of specialized Pollution Control Vessels is part of a broader initiative aimed at demonstration of ICG Marine Pollution Response capabilities and shared concern & resolve towards Marine Pollution in the ASEAN region, besides bolstering bilateral cooperation with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),” Ministry said in a release.

“The ICG ship is on an overseas deployment to ASEAN countries namely the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei from 25 March to 12 April 2024. The deployment is the third in a row by the Indian Coast Guard to ASEAN countries. Earlier in the year 2023, ICG Pollution Control Vessels visited Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia as part of the initiative,” it added.

The ICG Samudra Paheredar ship is outfitted with specialized marine pollution control gear, along with a Chetak Helicopter configured for Pollution Response purposes. This equipment is specifically designed to contain and recover spilled oil, enhancing the effectiveness of operations. During its visits to ports, the ship conducts demonstrations that involve Pollution Response training and practical showcases of different equipment.

The deployment came even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on an official visit to the Philippines and is holding a series of meetings with prominent leaders in Manila.

Additionally, the ship has 25 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets to participate in the Government’s initiative “Puneet Sagar Abhiyan,” and provide it an international outreach in coordination with partner nations. As part of an overseas exchange program, the NCC cadets, in coordination with ICG ship crew, Partner agencies personnel, Indian Embassy/ Mission staff, and local youth organizations will undertake beach cleanup and similar activities during the port call of the ship, the ministry said.

According to the release, “This visit holds significant importance in strengthening bilateral relationships with key maritime agencies, including the Philippine Coast Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard, and Brunei Maritime agencies. ICG has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards Enhanced Maritime Cooperation and Maritime Safety and Security with the Coast Guards of the Philippines and Vietnam. These relationships have evolved over the years to ensure the safety, security, and marine environment concerns in the region.”

“The visit’s agenda includes professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, joint exercises, as well as official and social engagements including visits to capacity-building facilities,” it added.

ICGS Samudra Paheredar, based on the East Coast of India in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, operates under the command of Deputy Inspector General Sudhir Ravindran. Throughout the years, Samudra Paheredar has effectively carried out numerous Coast Guard operations, such as Pollution Response, surveillance in the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), countering transnational crimes, and conducting Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.

Meanwhile, the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, in a statement said that Manila conveyed its “strong protest against the aggressive actions” undertaken by China’s Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militias against the Philippine mission near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

The department stated that it has directed its mission in Beijing to file a formal complaint regarding the incident. This decision follows a statement made by Philippines' National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, who stated that the confrontation, which resulted in injuries to three Filipino soldiers, caused significant damage to the Unaizah May 4 vessel.

Jaishankar arrived in Manila after paying an official visit to Singapore and will visit Malaysia after the Philippines.

Jaishankar is on an official visit to these countries at the invitation of his counterparts, according to an official release of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The visit of the External Affairs Minister (EAM) will last for five days, from March 23^rd to 27^th. Its primary focus will be strengthening bilateral relations with the three countries and facilitating discussions on regional issues of mutual interest.

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