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Operation Southern Readiness 26-2, a four-day multinational maritime security training engagement, commenced at Southern Naval Command in Keralam's Kochi.
The event was hosted on 20 July by the Southern Naval Command. The engagement is being conducted under the aegis of the Indian Navy-led Combined Task Force 154 (CTF 154), in partnership with Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and has brought together 254 participants from 26 countries, supported by 74 facilitators and four International Organisations and Subject Matter Experts. The exercise marks the maiden conduct of Operation Southern Readiness in India and represents an important milestone in the growing engagement between the Indian Navy and CMF. CTF 154, CMF's dedicated Training Task Force, is presently commanded by the Indian Navy and is focused on strengthening capacity, interoperability and professional readiness of CMF Partner Nations through multinational maritime training. The Opening Ceremony featured opening remarks by Cmde Milind M Mokashi, Commander CTF 154, an inaugural address by Cmde Dan Thomas, Deputy Commander, Combined Maritime Forces, and a keynote address by RAdm Deepak Singhal, Chief Staff Officer (Training), Headquarters Southern Naval Command. The addresses underscored the importance of professional training, shared learning, and multinational cooperation in addressing contemporary maritime security challenges. The opening day, broadly themed around the subject of Ship Management and Special Training, combined professional interaction with Subject Matter Experts and practical exposure. A session by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) addressed maritime security threats in the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean. This was followed by hands-on exposure on Ship Handling, Navigation, Astro Navigation, Maritime Distress Communication Systems, and Damage Control and Firefighting utilising Indian Navy's state-of-the-art simulators and associated training infrastructure. Over the next three days, participants will continue with a diverse programme of professional sessions, simulator-based training and practical activities covering key aspects of contemporary maritime security. The engagement reflects the Indian Navy-CMF partnership in advancing regional capacity building, interoperability, and collective maritime security while promoting professional exchange and stronger relationships among participating nations. As per the release, the conduct of Operation Southern Readiness by the Southern Naval Command further augments the role of the Indian Navy as the Preferred Security and Training Partner in the region. (ANI)
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