Tamil Nadu

Coast Guard enhances presence in Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar

— Photo: V. Ganesan

Flying high: A Coast Guard helicopter exchanging parcels between ships during an exercise on the high seas off the Chennai coast on Tuesday.

ON BOARD THE ICGS VIVEK: The Coast Guard has upgraded its strength in the Palk Bay region and has enhanced its presence in the Gulf of Mannar, Coast Guard Director-General Vice Admiral Rusi Contractor said on Tuesday.

“We are planning an air station near Tuticorin. We are planning to enhance our surveillance efforts,” he said during an interaction with presspersons after witnessing Coast Guard exercises off the Chennai coast.

“We have gone ahead with our perspective plans of modernising the Coast Guard and achieved a lot in terms of operations,” he said. With the addition of 18 to 20 vessels next year, the presence of the Coast Guard would improve significantly in this region.

“Next year we should have 18-20 ships inducted into the Coast Guard… We will have faster, sleeker ships, with more punch,” he said.

The Coast Guard will get Jet aircraft that can stay up longer (about six hours and more) compared to the ageing Dorniers (about four hours). “We are going in for six Jet aircraft that can fly much faster,” he said.

“The first Jets will be come in by 2011-12. We are also going in for twin engine helicopters. Because we have seen that both on the east coast and the west coast, when the monsoon hits, we are unable to fly single engine [helicopters]. With modern Nav Aids [navigational aids], radars and the twin engine helicopter, we will be able to respond much better,” he said.

The second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel, ICGS Samrat was currently undergoing final phase of trials. The Admiral said that he was confident that the vessel would be commissioned this month. By March 2009, at least one pollution control vessel would join the fleet.

Asked if the Coast Guard was satisfied with the performance of the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter, he said that the force was “happy” and “we are still continuing trials.” The Coast Guard would go in for a global tender for procuring more twin engine helicopters.

It has signed a memorandum with its South Korean counterpart to carry out joint exercises. Last year an Indian team went to South Korea for the exercises. A ship and a team will arrive here in December for holding joint exercises.

The Japan Coast Guard is also expected to come later for exercise with the Indian Coast Guard.

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