Coast Guard to have dedicated jetty at Karaikal port

The Indian Coast Guard Station is slated to have a ship permanently based at Karaikal Port here.

Talks with MARG port for a dedicated jetty for Coast Guard operations was headed to a conclusion and an MOU was likely to be inked soon, said Eastern Coast Guard Regional Commander, Inspector General S.P. Sharma here on Wednesday.

Commander Sharma was on a tour to assess the operational preparedness of the station and oversee infrastructural amenities that are under development for the station. A Coast Guard vessel is expected to be berthed permanently for coastal patrol at the port within the next quarter. After protracted negotiations with the port, a 75-meter long berth dedicated for Coast Guard operations is expected to come through shortly. The Coast Guard station here already has an interceptor craft at its disposal for coastal patrol.

There were several Coast Guard vessels already calling at Karaikal port in the wake of extensive operations of the station here, Commander Sharma said. Speaking to

The Hindu , Coast Guard Commandant Udhal Singh said the development reaffirmed the role of the Coast Guard station in Karaikal as the frontal CG operational base providing logistic and administrative support to Coast Guard ships calling on Karaikal.