Pakistan hosts maritime oil spill response exercise

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - A three-day maritime oil spill response exercise ended Thursday with the sea phase on the North Arabian Sea that was witnessed by Türkiye and 14 foreign observers, according to the Pakistan Navy.

Caretaker Chief Minister of southern Sindh province, Maqbool Baqar, witnessed the phase onboard the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Ship, KASHMIR, according to a statement.

Air and Surface assets of the Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) and Pakistan Air Force participated in the exercise.

"Exercises on containment of oil spill, Search and Rescue operations and anti piracy were demonstrated by Pak Navy and PMSA aircrafts, PN & PAF helicopters and PMSA ships," it said.

The International Exercise Barracuda-XII is a Marine Oil Spill exercise to enhance the capacity and proficiency of national stakeholders to combat pollution at sea.

The Pakistan Navy said the successful three-day event served as a testament to the power of international collaboration in contending against marine pollution incidents.

"The sea phase of BARRACUDA XII reinforces the commitment of all involved national and international stakeholders to uphold international maritime regulations," it said.