Coast Guard conducts pollution response exercise

Jagatsinghpur (Orissa), Dec 10 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard Wednesday conducted an exercise off the Orissa coast near the port town of Paradip to assess the response to oil spill and other pollutions, an official said.

The exercise was conducted to assess and analyse the real-time situation of oil spill and pollution response capabilities of the Coast Guard, Paradip Port Trust and oil companies.

'We do this from time to time with an aim to demonstrate the capabilities of different types of pollution response equipments held by the coast guard,' a Coast Guard official said.

The Coast Guard pressed into service three ships - Sagar, Razia Sultana, Sarojini Naidu - and one Coast Guard helicopter for the exercise.

The exercise includes assessment of oil spill dispersant and pollution control equipment fitted on board ships of Indian Coast Guard and the Paradip Port Trust.

Representatives of various oil agencies also participated in the exercise.