: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Friday commissioned an Interceptor Boat (IB) at Haldia in West Bengal enhancing its shallow water operational capability in riverine areas, including Sunderbans and other porous maritime borders in the region.
The vessel will operate under the operational and administrative control of the Coast Guard District Headquarters at Haldia, further enhancing its operational capabilities to undertake multifarious tasks such as surveillance, search and rescue, including medical evacuation, an official release said.
Inspector General VSR Murthy, Commander Coast Guard Region (NE), commissioned ICGS C-418, the first of the two planned interceptor boats to be inducted for Coast Guard operations in West Bengal and adjoining regions. The 27-metre long boat will have a ‘company of men’ consisting of one officer and 14 enrolled personnel. The boat can achieve speeds in excess of 45 knots and has an endurance of 500 nautical miles with an economical speed of 20 knots, the release said.
The interceptor boat is equipped with advanced navigational and communication equipment and has a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun as its main armament. The craft is also fitted with infrared and night vision cameras enabling day and night surveillance.
Outlining the capability build-up of Coast Guard in the North-East Region since 2012, Mr. Murthy in his address stated that in the last two years, three stations at Kolkata, Gopalpur, Frazerganj and an Air Enclave at Bhubaneswar were commissioned.
Further, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, two Fast Patrol Vessels, two Air Cushion Vehicles (hovercraft), three Interceptor Boats including C-418 and one Dornier aircraft have joined the region, he said.
Meanwhile, on the coastal surveillance network, the IG added that while radar stations have been already set up at Paradip and Gopalpur on the Odisha Coast, work for setting up of radar station at Sagar off West Bengal Coast is in progress, the release said.
- Shallow water operational capability will improve in riverine areas, porous maritime borders
Fitted with infrared and night vision cameras to enable day and night surveillance
