INCOIS, MoES, NDMA Jointly Host ‘Maritime Multi-Hazards Services’ Conclave in Chennai

Chennai:

Port Wings News Network:

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India, Hyderabad in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), will host a Conclave on Marine Multi-Hazards Services in Chennai on 29 August 2025.

This high-level event will bring together key stakeholders from government agencies, scientific institutions, industry, armed forces, and coastal communities to deliberate on strengthening India’s preparedness for marine-related hazards.

India’s 11,110 km coastline is exposed to a range of ocean-related hazards such as tsunamis, storm-surges, high waves, swell surges, oil spills, rescue emergencies, marine heat waves, and the emerging challenge of climate change.

These events pose serious risks to the lives of millions in coastal communities, as well as to critical infrastructure such as ports, offshore industries, and energy installations. The East Coast, in particular, is highly vulnerable to cyclones and tsunamis, making preparedness essential for reducing disaster risk.

Over the years, INCOIS has become a global leader in providing accurate and timely multi-hazard early warnings and advisory services. These include tsunami bulletins, storm-surge forecasts, high-wave alerts, small vessel advisories, marine climate services, and ecosystem advisories. Notably, INCOIS has maintained a zero false-alarm record for tsunamis, preventing unnecessary evacuations while ensuring timely action to save lives.

The Chennai Conclave will:

·         Highlight the importance of early warning systems for saving lives and minimizing economic losses.

·         Showcase innovations in ocean observations, modeling, and multi-hazard vulnerability mapping.

·         Discuss safety measures for critical coastal and offshore infrastructure against marine hazards.

·         Strengthen collaboration with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for monitoring, rescue, and rapid response.

·         Promote the role of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) in implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), community preparedness programmes, and UNESCO-IOC’s Tsunami Ready initiative.

This conclave is part of a broader national effort to mainstream marine multi-hazard preparedness into disaster management frameworks. By bringing together state and district authorities, scientific experts, industry representatives, and community leaders, the event seeks to build a culture of safety and resilience along India’s coasts. The deliberations will also feed into India’s participation in international initiatives such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (Ocean Decade) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, ensuring that India’s coastal communities remain at the forefront of resilience-building.

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