The regional grouping Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) conducted its maiden edition of maritime exercise, IMEX-22, at Goa and in the Arabian Sea from March 26 to 30. The exercise witnessed participation of 16 of the 25 member nations.
“The aim of the exercise was to enhance interoperability in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations among member navies,” the Navy said. The participants validated the IONS HADR guidelines and developed response mechanisms for providing HADR from sea to shore and for rendering assistance to ships and crafts in distress at sea, it said.