Officers and crew from nine countries have arrived in the Maldives to participate in the Indian Coast Guard's exercise to ensure safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
A Maldivian officer and three crew members of the country’s coast guard will take part in the exercise, Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Commander Kamal Singh Rana said the Indian vessel set sail on 5 April and stopped at four ports before arriving in the Maldives.
The commander said naval officers and crew from countries in the Indian Ocean region are undergoing training on the ship which include 12 officers and 32 crew members.
"Almost all the participants taking part in the exercises in the Indian Ocean have been trained in India. The exercises include maritime weapons combat and helicopter rescue operations,” he explained.
Navy officers from some of the participating countries recounted positive experiences from the exercise, adding that they learned a lot in the field of maritime security.
The joint training exercises will boost maritime security efforts in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had said.