The Indian Coast Guard on Saturday got yet another hovercraft, which will be based at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district.
Commissioning the vessel, H-197 here, Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul lauded the Coast Guard for safeguarding the nation and maintaining peace and tranquillity in the country’s maritime zones.
Satya Prakash Sharma, Inspector-General and Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), said the hovercraft, equipped with advanced communication and navigational equipment, could operate at 45 knots. In the past two years, the Coast Guard seized 93 foreign fishing vessels and 48,000 kg of fish and rescued 296 persons.
Asked about the Coast Guard’s preparedness for tackling the situation arising out of the very severe cyclone Hudhud, he said that besides cautioning fishermen to return to the shore, the Coast Guard kept in readiness aircraft and ships to help them out.
