Muscat, Oman : The Indian Coast Guard Ship Sajag arrived at Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman, on November 29, 2023, for a three-day visit to enhance maritime cooperation between India and Oman. The visit aligns with India’s maritime vision of “SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region” and promotes interoperability with the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard (ROPCG).
During the visit, the Sajag crew will engage in professional interactions, including onboard training and lectures, Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) exercises, cross-deck visits, joint yoga sessions, planning conferences, and table-top exercises for Marine Pollution Response (MPR). Additionally, courtesy calls will be made by the Commanding Officer of the Sajag on various dignitaries and government officials of Oman.
The interactions between the Indian Coast Guard and the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard are guided by the provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and are further strengthened through annually conducted High-Level Meetings (HLM). The overseas deployment of ICG ships, including the Sajag’s visit to Oman, aims to foster bilateral relationships and strengthen international cooperation with Foreign Friendly Countries (FFCs) in the region.
The Sajag’s visit to West Asia also includes port calls in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Mina Rashid, UAE. These engagements with senior officials and personnel from various maritime agencies will further enhance regional safety and security.
ICGS Sajag is an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) based on India’s West Coast in Porbandar, Gujarat. Equipped with modern weapon systems, sensors, state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems, and an integral helicopter, Sajag has undertaken various Coast Guard operations, including Coastal Security and IMBL/EEZ surveillance, anti-transnational crimes, and Maritime SAR and Pollution Response operations.
The visit of ICGS Sajag to Oman and other countries in West Asia underscores India’s commitment to fostering friendly relations through maritime cooperation, emphasizing the “Global South” under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s maritime vision of “SAGAR.”
