As per the agreements with International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Search and Rescue Region (SRR) allocated to Sri Lanka consists of a vast sea area and is almost twenty seven times (27) the land mass and borders the Australian, Indian, Indonesian and Maldivian SAR regions. Since Sri Lanka is located in a strategically important location in the Indian Ocean. The main Sea Line of Communications (SLOC) of the region passes through the SAR region of Sri Lanka.
Large numbers of ships use the main SLOC in the Indian Ocean which lays closer to the Southern tip of the country and an average of 250 ships sail through the traffic separation scheme. Further; hundreds of multiday fishing vessels from the country venture out to sea for fishing in high seas and in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The Sri Lanka Coast Guard being one of the prime agencies responsible for maritime SAR; It has been entrusted to conduct search and rescue operations for human being in times of distress and natural catastrophes and to assist and conduct salvage operations in relation to vessels and cargo after such catastrophes and other accidents at sea. Presently the Sri Lanka Coast Guard conducts search and rescue related activities with optimum utilization of available resources and is in the process of enhancing the capacity in SAR with friendly Coast Guards which possesses expert knowledge and assets.
SLCG Oil Spill Response team plays a leading role in responding to marine based disaster especially at Oil Spill incidents. In keeping with National Oil Spill Contingency Plan SLCG holds sole responsibility as,
To perform surveillance of oil slicks.
To hold permanent staff for a first strike force trained and equipped to deal with an incident.
To combat spill and participate in clean-up operations at sea and land by providing all facilities available with SLCG.
Nomination of Incident Management team members to help Incident Commander and MEPA in combating oil spill at Tier II / III levels and to update NOSCOP.
SLCG as the first strike force for an Oil Spill disaster, it has been established four strike teams with well trained personnel on Oil Spill Response and placed each in four regions as of Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern region with sufficient response equipment. The focal warehouse for oil spill equipment is established at CGS Dikovita.
SLCGS Samudraraksha and SLCGS Samaraksha are well equipped ships with marine oil spill response equipment and well trained personnel in handling of oil spill disasters at open sea. These two ships are placed at Colombo harbour as the area is vital for more marine based disasters and ready to sail at 24/7 at short notice.
Being the pioneer in responding to marine oil spill response situations, SLCG has contributed its specialized skills and response equipment in controlling of various marine based oil spill disasters occurred both at sea and inland waters.
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