Marine Safety: Indian Coast Guard To Go Big On Pollution Control – 2 Vessels To Be Inducted By Mid 2026

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is set to induct two state-of-the-art Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) currently under construction at state-owned defence firm Goa Shipyard Limited, Director General Paramesh Sivamani announced on Monday (October 6, 2025). The first of these PCVs is set to commissioned by the end of this year.

Speaking aboard ICGS Shaurya during the 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) and the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) meeting, Sivamani shared that the first PCV is expected to commissioned by the end of 2025, followed by the second around May–June 2026.

He noted that these vessels will significantly enhance India’s maritime pollution management capabilities, allowing the ICG to better safeguard the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

How is the ICG expanding its operational capacity?

“There is a consistent increase in our force level so that we are able to discharge our mandated charter to the nation’s full satisfaction,” DG Sivamani said, underscoring the Coast Guard’s ongoing modernisation drive.

With this, he further underlined that a marine casualty investigation is in progress following the recent ship capsize off the Kerala coast, where several containers were washed ashore. Sivamani termed it “premature” to comment on the probe findings but emphasised that the ICG immediately coordinated with the Kerala government for shoreline clean-up operations and containment of pollutants.

For the uninitiated, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship – the MSC ELSA 3 – capsized and sank off the coast of Kerala earlier this year on May 25, 2025, after experiencing flooding. While all 24 crew members were rescued, the sinking caused an estimated 640 containers. Some of these were carrying hazardous materials.

NATPOLREX-X: What was demonstrated this year?

The large-scale exercise showcased the ICG’s full-spectrum oil spill response capabilities, deploying a diverse mix of assets – Pollution Control Vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, Fast Patrol Vessels, and aircraft including Chetak helicopters and Dornier surveillance planes.

For the first time, NATPOLREX-X also featured a shoreline clean-up drill on Chennai’s Marina Beach, involving multiple agencies such as the Greater Chennai Corporation, State Pollution Control Board, and local law enforcement. The coordinated exercise demonstrated joint preparedness and inter-agency synergy in tackling marine pollution incidents along India’s vast coastline.

Why does this matter for India’s maritime security?

With maritime trade and offshore energy exploration expanding rapidly, the risk of oil spills and marine pollution has increased proportionately. The induction of new PCVs and enhanced multi-agency drills highlight India’s proactive stance on maritime environmental security, a domain now increasingly recognised as a strategic component of national defence and economic resilience.

Earlier this year on July 23, 2025, Goa Shipyard Limited had launched the second indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), Yard 1268, for the ICG. Named Samudra Prachet, the vessel is the second in a series of two Pollution Control Vessels. The first, Samudra Pratap (Yard 1267), was launched on August 29, 2024.