Over one thousand and six hundred nautical miles away from Indian shores across the Equator lies the Seychelles archipelago, a cluster of 115 islands which are spread like emeralds over one million square kilometres of azure waters. The country is a living natural history museum with half of its limited land area proclaimed as nature reserves. One can see from the smallest frog to the heaviest land tortoise here.

As part of its endeavour to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring maritime states in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise with Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) off Seychelles in October last year. CGS Samar an advanced offshore patrol vessel commanded by Deputy Inspector General SP Sharma and Coast Guard ship Vijaya, an offshore patrol vessel commanded by Comdt VSR Murthy of the Coast Guard Region (West), Mumbai represented Indian Coast Guard at this first ever joint exercise between these two countries. The exercises focussed on search and rescue and pollution (SAR) response at high seas under the overall supervision of Cmde S Pradeep, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) who had specially flown to Seychelles for the conduct of exercises. The exercises were christened Vikasatmak ie development. The conduct of these exercises etched an indelible mark in the minds of Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) personnel in particular and Seychelles in general.

For participating in the exercise CGS Samar and CGS Vijaya commenced their passage to Seychelles on October 1 from Kochi on a six-day long voyage. The Seychelles archipelago lies south of equator, and the two ships, approached the equator in the afternoon of October 5. The occasion of crossing the equator by mariners is marked by a ceremony commonly called 'Crossing the line ceremony' and the mariners who cross the line are called "sons of Neptune" or "Shellbacks".

The Indian ships arrived at Mahe Port, Seychelles as scheduled in the morning of October 7. They were duly received by the SCG personnel. Commander, Coast Guard (West) accompanied by the two Captains made official calls to the various dignitaries the same day followed by a reception onboard which was attended by the diplomatic staff, distnguished civil and defence personnel besides the prominent Indian community of Seychelles.

Over the next few days, the ships were host to various social and professional activites. Ships were visited by special children from local orphanage and public besides the SCG personnel for interactive professional sessions. The ships conducted joint exercises with SCG ships on October 10 in the EEZ of Seychelles. The exercises were conducted in a most professional manner, in which the personnel from both the Coast Guards displayed their skills in search and rescue and pollution response operations. The participating units performed in such a way as if the two Coast Guards were working together for many years. The two Indian ships patrolled the EEZ of Seychelles for over two days. Later, the Indian ships sailed back to Indian shores on October 12.