KARACHI: The 12th series of the three-day exercise ‘Barracuda’, organised by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), is set to begin from Tuesday (today).

In his message released on the eve of the exercise, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf said that oceans play a vital role in providing sustenance, livelihoods, regulating climate patterns and nurturing unparalleled biodiversity.

He said that as a responsible member of global maritime fraternity, Pakistan has fostered collaboration with regional countries and engaged in global partnerships to safeguard marine conservation initiatives.

He stated as part of its international commitment the PMSA ensures safety of life at sea and preserves nation’s marine resources. “Pakistan Navy being the premier stakeholder of national maritime defence extends all out support to PMSA and augments Maritime Domain Awareness for preservation of sea-based resources and enduring ecological balance.”

“The Pakistan Navy and PMSA have embarked on conducting international series of exercises code named ‘Barracuda’ under the overall ambit of the National Marine Disaster Contingency Plan. The aim of these exercises is to crystallise national response mechanism against oil spill disasters and contingent SAR [search and rescue] requirements in collaboration with international partners,” he added.

The naval chief said in the mix of contemporary maritime challenges, environmental complexities have added another layer to maritime security. “These challenges not only jeopardise marine biodiversity but also have cascading effects on global climate patterns and livelihood of coastal communities. Among these environmental challenges, the looming spectre of oil spills pose a critical concern and necessitate coordinated response by international and national stakeholders.”

“Barracuda-XII will provide an opportunity to review and align our response procedures to attain shared objective of pristine marine environment and safety of life at sea. The exercise will also provide a forum in the shape of maritime seminar to deliberate on contemporary technological advancements and global best practices in the field of marine pollution control. The exercise is set to reaffirm our national resolve and acknowledge the importance of oceans in our collective wellbeing and the need to protect and preserve them for our future generations,” he added.

Meanwhile, PMSA Director General Rear Admiral Imtiaz Ali said in a statement that the agency had consistently taken the leading role both national and international level to safeguard maritime security in the region and the exercise had become its signature event since 2007.

“PMSA remains resolute in its dedication to ensure maritime safety and upholding environmental mandates. The conduct of Barracuda under the ambit of Pakistan Navy underscores our commitment to prevent marine pollution. Apart from meeting national objectives on environmental control and anti-pollution drives the exercise also provides a common platform to deliberate upon and fine tune response mechanism for marine pollution,” he stated.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2024