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Indian Coast Guard Plan Till 2012 Finalised, Force Strength to Double
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will double its strength to about 150 surface vessels by 2018, with the government approving its 2012-17 five-year plan.
Opening a three-day annual conference of the ICG commanders, Defence Minister AK Antony said, "the (maritime security) service is on course to double its assets and building capacity in the next four or five years."
This year ICG has added a regional headquarters for the country's northeastern coast and five new stations along the country's 7,500-km coastline.
"By the end of the current financial year (March 2013), another six sanctioned stations are also likely to be established," Antony said.
Continuing about the expansion and strengthening of the ICG, the Defence minister said the ICG development plan had been approved and adequate funds provided. He, though, did not specify how much funds had been sanctioned and what is the plan size.
Antony said ICG's Coastal Surveillance Network project's phase-I is nearing completion, after the radar chair was opened for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala coast in the last couple of months. "The system will indeed provide additional measures towards electronic surveillance," he said.
"We aim to achieve near-gap-free electronic surveillance along our coasts and towards this end, the phase-II of the project will be started soon, after the completion of the first phase," he remarked.
"Maritime security infrastructure, as it stands today, is quite robust and capable of handling various security challenges at sea" he added.
Noting that the role of the fishing community is vital in strengthening of coastal security mechanism, the Defence minister said community interaction programme is to be given impetus in order to sensitize the fishermen on the prevailing security situation and to develop them to be the "eyes and ears" for intelligence gathering.
ICG Director General Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan, in his address, highlighted the progress made by the ICG in acquisition cases of various types of ships and aircraft, development of infrastructure, induction of manpower in the service and enhanced efforts for surveillance of the coast and the sea.
He noted that a Pollution Control Vessel, four Inshore Patrol Vessels, two Air Cushion Vessels (hovercraft), an Interceptor Boat and four Interceptor Craft were inducted into the service in recent months.
"The Coast Guard aims to achieve a force level of 150 surface platforms by the year 2018," he added.
Between the previous commanders conference and now, a Dornier patrol plane squadron was established at Porbandar, Gujarat on the eastern coast.
Establishing two air stations, five air enclaves, and four more Dornier squadrons have been prioritised, he added.
In the conference, the Coast Guard commanders will analysis operational capabilities, deployment of forces and preparation for the future challenges.
It will also provide an opportunity to them to introspect the standards achieved in the wide spectrum of coast guard responsibilities
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will double its strength to about 150 surface vessels by 2018, with the government approving its 2012-17 five-year plan.
Opening a three-day annual conference of the ICG commanders, Defence Minister AK Antony said, "the (maritime security) service is on course to double its assets and building capacity in the next four or five years."
This year ICG has added a regional headquarters for the country's northeastern coast and five new stations along the country's 7,500-km coastline.
"By the end of the current financial year (March 2013), another six sanctioned stations are also likely to be established," Antony said.
Continuing about the expansion and strengthening of the ICG, the Defence minister said the ICG development plan had been approved and adequate funds provided. He, though, did not specify how much funds had been sanctioned and what is the plan size.
Antony said ICG's Coastal Surveillance Network project's phase-I is nearing completion, after the radar chair was opened for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala coast in the last couple of months. "The system will indeed provide additional measures towards electronic surveillance," he said.
"We aim to achieve near-gap-free electronic surveillance along our coasts and towards this end, the phase-II of the project will be started soon, after the completion of the first phase," he remarked.
"Maritime security infrastructure, as it stands today, is quite robust and capable of handling various security challenges at sea" he added.
Noting that the role of the fishing community is vital in strengthening of coastal security mechanism, the Defence minister said community interaction programme is to be given impetus in order to sensitize the fishermen on the prevailing security situation and to develop them to be the "eyes and ears" for intelligence gathering.
ICG Director General Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan, in his address, highlighted the progress made by the ICG in acquisition cases of various types of ships and aircraft, development of infrastructure, induction of manpower in the service and enhanced efforts for surveillance of the coast and the sea.
He noted that a Pollution Control Vessel, four Inshore Patrol Vessels, two Air Cushion Vessels (hovercraft), an Interceptor Boat and four Interceptor Craft were inducted into the service in recent months.
"The Coast Guard aims to achieve a force level of 150 surface platforms by the year 2018," he added.
Between the previous commanders conference and now, a Dornier patrol plane squadron was established at Porbandar, Gujarat on the eastern coast.
Establishing two air stations, five air enclaves, and four more Dornier squadrons have been prioritised, he added.
In the conference, the Coast Guard commanders will analysis operational capabilities, deployment of forces and preparation for the future challenges.
It will also provide an opportunity to them to introspect the standards achieved in the wide spectrum of coast guard responsibilities
