BI-ANNUAL EXERCISE ‘PRASTHAN’ CONDUCTED IN WESTERN OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENT AREA OFF MUMBAI
Indian Navy, alongside various defence, State, and civil agencies, carried out a coordinated exercise named ‘Prasthan’ on December 8th, 2023, in the Offshore Development Area off Mumbai. Conducted bi-annually, this exercise serves to validate protocols addressing potential contingencies in oil production platforms. The recent exercise centred around the R12A (Ratna) platform of ONGC, situated approximately 45 nm West of Mumbai harbour.
The day-long exercise commenced early on December 8th, 2023, divided into two phases. The first phase simulated security emergencies such as terrorist attacks and bomb threats from IEDs. In response to the threat, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, and Commander-in-Chief (Coastal Defence), West, activated the contingency plan. The Crisis Management Committee, comprising senior officials from various defence, State, and civilian agencies, convened at the Indian Navy’s Operation Centre, facilitating a coordinated response. The Crisis Management Group evaluated diverse aspects of the emergencies and initiated coordinated actions in line with established Standard Operating Procedures. The Indian Navy, in collaboration with the Indian Air Force, deployed anti-sabotage teams to neutralise security threats on the affected oil platform.
The first phase further simulated responses to contingencies like terrorist intrusion, bomb threats, man overboard situations, medical evacuation of platform crew, and oil spill management in the area. The subsequent phase focused on addressing scenarios involving fires on the oil platform and aiding a disabled vessel in the offshore development area.
Numerous vessels and helicopters from the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, ONGC, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Director General of Shipping participated in the exercise. Personnel from Maharashtra Police, Customs, Fisheries Department, Mumbai Port Authorities, JN Port Authorities, India Met Department, and other relevant State and Central civilian agencies were also involved. The drills and protocols were executed in a cohesive and coordinated manner. The exercise provided a practical assessment of preparedness among the involved agencies to handle these contingencies, evaluating procedures for effective coordination between them. A comprehensive analysis of the activities will be conducted to refine existing protocols and identify areas for further enhancement.
