New Delhi, Sep 25 Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship ‘Shaunak’ on Friday sailed from Chennai for Australia’s Perth as part of the Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, marking an important step in advancing maritime cooperation and interoperability among the members of the grouping, officials said.
The initiative, aligned with the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement of May 26, reflects the shared commitment of India, Australia, Japan, and the US to uphold a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific, the ICG said in a statement.
Six sea riders — two officers each from India and Japan, and one officer each from Australia and the US — embarked onboard ICG’s ‘Shaunak’.
They will participate in shipboard activities and professional exchanges designed to enhance interoperability, strengthen coordination, and build mutual trust, the ICG statement said.
This mission underscores India’s maritime vision of ‘MAHASAGAR’ (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), reaffirming ICG’s dedication to collective engagement, professional linkages, and a secure maritime environment across the Indo-Pacific, it added.
(PTI News)
