Joint operations to check EEZ poaching

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPT. 28. Joint operations will be conducted involving the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Army and the Maritime Police Force to check poaching and infiltration in India's Exclusive Economic Zone, Mr.I.P. Gupta, Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, said here on Thursday.

The Lt. Governor, who commissioned the indigenously- built INS Trinkat at the Naval Jetty, expressed confidence that the induction of this fast patrol vessel (FPV) would bring a decline in the illegal activities off the islands' coast and said, ``This is going to be the first of the four FPVs to be put on this job.''

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands functioned like the sentinels of the sealanes but its innumerable shallow creeks and inlets ``have become the favourite poaching ground for foreign vessels which would slip in under the cover of darkness in small vessels to poach the sea wealth in our EEZ.''

The sea cucumber and shells were poached mostly, and the poachers were also destroying the forests and threatening the aborigine population. They sometimes camped on the uninhabited islands.

According to the Lt. Governor, 371 Myanmarese, 10 Thai and four Indonesian poachers had been caught and 11 fishing craft seized since the beginning of this year. He found INS Trinkat, named after one of the islands in the archipelago, ideally suited for the job of controlling poaching and infiltration along with surveillance. ``The islanders are awaiting the induction of the other vessels into the service,'' he said. Vice-Admiral Vinod Pasricha, Flag Officer Commanding- in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, said that the FPV would meet all the requirements of the islands. Only two days ago, 90 poachers were caught, he pointed out.

The ENC chief thanked the Lt. Governor for his sustained support to the Navy in all aspects in the islands.

The Admiral, who had just returned from a tour of China and other countries, said that Indian ships and their personnel received high praise during their visit to ports such as Shanghai, Seoul and those in Japan. The ships also visited Indonesia.

Earlier, Commodore B.M. Saha (retd.), Director of Personnel, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, representing his Chairman and Managing Director, said that building INS Trinkat was a learning experience and enhanced the yard's confidence. GRSE had built big warships of different classes in the past, he recalled, and promised that the yard would meet the Navy's expectations in quality and prompt delivery as its infrastructure was being modernised.

At the commissioning ceremony, Lt. Commander Girish K. Garg, Commander of INS Trinkat, read out the commissioning warrant and the colours of the ship were hoisted as the naval band played the National Anthem. The Commissioning Pennant was broken as the last bar of the National Anthem was played. Mr. Gupta unveiled the plaque on the ship having its name. INS Trinkat's induction takes the Navy a step closer to indigenous warship production. The ship, measuring 46 metres in length with a displacement of 260 tonnes, can reach a speed of 29 knots. It can perform the multiple roles of detecting, locating and destroying fast-moving small surface craft and enhance the continuous surveillance as well as search-and-rescue operations.

It is equipped with the state-of-the-art navigation and satellite communication system and its machinery control system is one of the most advanced systems in the world today. It has the most advanced fully computerised engine and a reverse osmosis plant to provide fresh water round the clock.

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