The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is in the process of ramping up its security infrastructure, ICG Commander S.P. Sharma (Eastern Region) said on Monday.
Addressing newsmen after presiding over the decommissioning ceremony of the ICG's first two in-shore patrol vessels, “Jijabai” and “Kittur Chennamma”, Mr. Sharma said Coast Guard would soon be acquiring 20 ships and 10 aircraft besides opening four new stations in the Eastern Region alone.
Promising “a whole new dimension” on the security logistics front, Mr. Sharma said the ICG would also shortly commission a radar chain comprising 47 radar stations along the Eastern and Western coastlines.
The capacity building in the security infrastructure through new acquisitions and technology upgrades in weaponry and operational capability was to match the expanding role of the ICG, Mr. Sharma said.
Earlier, addressing ICG officers, Mr. Sharma said 50 more vessels were in various stages of induction into the fleet of 23 in-shore and fast patrol vehicles in the Eastern command area.
Declaring the decommissioning of the two vessels as a “proud and sombre” moment, Mr. Sharma said both the IPVs had rendered nearly three decades of relentless service to the nation and safeguarded its maritime interests. These ships have also contributed immensely to ensuring coastal security along Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coastlines on the eastern seaboard, especially playing a noteworthy role during “Ops Tasha”, he said.
Jijabai, of Tokyo shipyard lineage, was commissioned into active Coast Guard service in July, 1984 at Port Blair. During her lifespan, she sailed for 2,311 days at sea covering a net distance of 2,32,513 nautical miles.
The vessel has served two Coast Guard regions and three base ports while spearheading several search and rescue missions, anti-poaching and security patrols.
The ship is also credited with saving 51 lives besides apprehending 12 foreign fishing vessels for poaching in Indian Exclusive Economic Zones.
Kittur Chennamma, commissioned in 1983, has an equally distinguished track record and has saved 36 lives, apprehended several foreign fishing vessels and led gold hauls.
The crew's love for the vessel is reflected in the fact that as recently as in 2010, she was awarded the “Best Maintained Coast Guard Unit”. The decommissioning ceremony to provide “full service honours” to the two vessels was marked by a guard of honour for the Commander. At sunset, the crew took up posts on board the vessels and as a band played the national anthem, the flag with the tricolour and the Coast Guard ensign was lowered and handed over to the two Commanding Officers (COs) of the vessels.
The 44-metre blue pennants (representing the length of the vessels) was then unfurled and kept away in a special box. The two COs later handed over the decommissioning crest to Mr. Sharma.
