Conclave on Marine Multi-Hazards Services

Comprehensive Summary of the Conclave on Marine Multi-Hazards Services

Date and Venue:

• The Conclave on Marine Multi-Hazards Services for the Indian Coastline was held on August 29, 2025, in Chennai, organized by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Key Inaugurations:

• The event was inaugurated by Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Rtd) from the NDMA, who announced a new cell broadcast alert system targeting the fishing community to increase safety during cyclones. This system is set to begin trials on September 1, 2025.

Technology Features:

• The cell broadcast will maintain functionality even with mobile devices in silent mode, ensuring fishermen are alerted during emergencies.
• The success in managing Cyclone Biparjoy in 2023, which involved evacuations and the dispatch of over 32 million alert messages, was highlighted as an exemplary model of disaster management collaboration.

Invitations to Utilize Technology:

• Lt. Gen. Hasnain encouraged the public to download the Sachet app (NDMA) and Samudra app (INCOIS) for weather alerts. He emphasized the essential role of INCOIS in marine disaster management and the need for joint collaboration across various sectors.

Discussions on Preparedness:

• Dr. T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, Director of INCOIS, reiterated a “Science to Society” vision and confirmed the technology's effectiveness with zero false alarms for tsunamis, which preserves public trust in early warnings. He stressed the importance of preparedness in safeguarding lives and livelihoods along the coast.

Initiatives for Marine Safety:

• Prof. Balaji Ramakrishnan, from the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), emphasized collaboration among institutions in disseminating cyclone and tsunami alerts.
• The Mission Mausam, launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has a budget allocation of ₹20,000 crore (approximately $2.7 billion) aimed at weather preparedness.

Health and Emergency Response Initiatives:

• Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation) proposed the establishment of an emergency sea service akin to ambulance services for maritime health emergencies.

Program Highlights:

• Sessions covered:
  • Ocean information and advisories.
  • Tsunami early warning systems.
  • The IOWave25 initiative and UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready communities.
  • Risk analytics and mapping of multi-hazard vulnerabilities.
  • Technological innovations for disaster response and coastal research.

Agreed Outcomes:

• Strengthening multi-hazard readiness at community levels, including state and district implementations in liaison with State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), the Navy, and the Coast Guard.
• Improving user-driven services for the fishing industry, offshore activities, and ports.
• Constructing feedback mechanisms from field users into operational processes.
• Enhancing preparedness through exercises like IOWave25.

Alignment with Global Frameworks:

• The conclave aligns India’s strategies with international frameworks such as the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, focusing on safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and critical coastal infrastructure.

Key Points:

• The conclave took place on August 29, 2025, in Chennai, focusing on marine disaster management.
• New cell broadcast alert system for fishermen set for trial on September 1, 2025.
• Emphasis on multi-stakeholder collaboration following lessons learned from Cyclone Biparjoy.
• Dr. Nair advocates for the integration of science and technology in disaster preparedness.
• Mission Mausam to enhance weather readiness funded with ₹20,000 crore.
• Recommendations for establishing an emergency sea service for fishermen.
• Collaborative sessions to address tsunami, cyclone preparedness, and risk analytics.
• Commitment to integrate community feedback into disaster management services.
• The conclave aims to align national approaches with global disaster risk reduction initiatives.