Indian Coast Guard: News & Discussions

[rahulrds1]

Indian Coast Guard will become one of the best in world

Hindu: Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In a span of two years, the Indian Coast Guard would be the among best in the world as there was a plan to induct more men, machine and material to patrol the 7,500-km shoreline, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said here on Wednesday.

Underlining that the concept of security underwent a change after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to include threats from the sea, Mr. Antony said that in order to meet the additional responsibility of coastal surveillance given to the Coast Guard, the government had sanctioned 3,000 additional personnel to make it a potent force to counter terrorism from sea.

The Coast Guard was in the process of acquiring 20 fast patrol vehicles, 41 interceptor boats, 12 coastal surveillance Dornier aircraft and seven off-shore patrol vehicles in addition to 46 coastal radars spanning nine coastal stations across the country.

Recently, a Coast Guard Regional Headquarters was operationalised in Ahemdabad, while nine new Coast Guard stations would be established.

The Minister, who released funds to the Coast Guard both for the platforms and radars on a fast track. "These projects must be monitored carefully to ensure that these platforms are delivered on time, with requisite quality," he said.
He said that since its inception, the Coast Guard had maintained its fleet with minimum shore infrastructure and managing the fleet through outsourcing repairs and refit. With the massive expansion through ships acquisition, the force would develop the infrastructure.

Top officials said the Coast Guard faced a problem of shortage of trained officers. It was planning to open its own academy.

Bases:-
-29 Coast Guard Stations
-2 air bases, in Daman and Chennai
-3 Air enclaves at Goa, Kolkata and Port Blair.

Surface vessels:-
3300 tons: 3 , 2300 tons: 2 , 2005 tons: 1 , 220 tons: 7 , 200 tons: 15 , 2.4 tons: 8, 5.5 tons: 4 ,49 tons: 10 , 215 tons: 8 , 270 tons: 7, 203 tons: 2 , 32 tons: 5 , others:6.

Under Construction/Order:
2230 tons: 1 , 1800 tons: 3 , 275 tons: 5 , 75 tons:6 , 75 tons:15.

Hovercraft:- 6

Aircraft inventory:-
Planes:24
Helicopters: HAL Dhruv(Attack): 5,HAL Dhruv(Utility): 4, A rospatiale SA 316 Alouette III(France): 17.

[ NOTE: All figures dated on 29-10-2009 ]

Web Site : www.indiancoastguard.nic.in

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is one of four branches of the Indian Armed Forces, tasked with the mission to guard the Republic of India's maritime interests.

 

[RAM]

Indian Coast Guard Station to be commissioned at Karwar

Karwar (Karnataka), Nov 3(ANI): The Government will commission the Coast Guard station at Karnataka’s Karwar district on Wednesday for strengthening maritime and coastal security.

Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra will commission the station, which is being established based on the security assessment undertaken by the Government.

The station will function under the operational command of Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West), while Commandant (JG) Anil Sharma has been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the station.

The station will have two fast speedboats, to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls on as required basis.

Post 26/11, the responsibility of the Coastal Security from shoreline up to territorial waters has also been entrusted to the Coast Guard due to which 14 more stations will be established to address the security gap along the coastline.

In addition, the Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Commander Coastal Command, with the responsibility for overall coordination between various Central and State agencies, in all matters relating to the coastal security.

In response to the enhanced responsibilities, the Coast Guard is pursuing urgent enhancement of its surveillance capabilities so as to meet its tasks and responsibilities effectively.

The present force-levels and manpower are projected to double in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower. The setting up of 15 additional stations is part of this effort. (ANI)

 

[bhramos]

its a good for Indian Maritime and Coastal Security.

 

[Tamil]

but its not enough to guard our 7000+ km coast, more UAV's, patrol boats, interceptors, more men and more intelligence we need.

 

[dineshchaturvedi]

I agree that we will improve our capabilities. I do not understand why we use bollywood style titles. I have seen this many times, we use the word best, top ranking very loosly. Why we do not use words like we will have better coast gaurd or one of the good ones.

 

[bengalraider]

I welcome this growth of the Indian coast guard having more vessels with the coast guard shall free up navy vessels for other duties than patrolling the coastline.I believe the Indian coast guard should go in for large scale induction of Unmanned surface vessels like the protector and the spartan, this shall help us in policing the sea lanes around our major ports far more effectively these vessels like the spartan USV are already in service with the Singapore navy in the region and are used to patrol the Singapore harbor

protector

interceptor

spartan

 

[F-14]

but its not enough to guard our 7000+ km coast, more UAV's, patrol boats, interceptors, more men and more intelligence we need.

we also need To Integrate the Maritime Police of all coastal states in such a loop that they will be autonomous and yet come under the Jurisdiction of the ICG we also need to look hard at revitalizing old Coastal Forts etc

 

[AkhandBharat]

Buoys with rotating cameras on the top and underwater sonar devices which can be monitored by control bases along the coastline would reduce the monetary pressure of deploying a large number of patrol vessels all along the peninsula.

The vehicles can then be asked to engage by the base when an intrusion is detected.

 

[RPK]

The Hindu : News / National : Coast Guard to double strength, says Vice-Admiral

Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra said here on Thursday that the Coast Guard (CG) would be doubling its strength in four years and tripling it in the coming decade. He was speaking informally to the media aboard the Coast Guard ship Sankalp. The maritime agency of the Ministry of Defence was conducting the National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NLPRE) about 20 nautical miles from the Mumbai coast.

“We would be doubling the strength in all areas manpower, aircraft, platforms etc. Currently more than 50 ships are under construction in India,” Mr. Chopra said.

In the aftermath of 26/11, he said the CG and the Navy had enhanced their coordination and set up many mechanisms together. “When intelligence inputs arrive, we gear up for it. We are trying our best [to improve our structures]. All our services are involved in maritime security.’

Detection of suspicious ships

Chief Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Captain Manohar Nambiar said detection of suspicious ships depended largely on human intelligence and informant networks. The CG is making efforts to liaise with local fisher communities to benefit from the coordination in tracking suspicious activity. When asked about the trawler Kuber, which the 26/11 attackers had used, he pointed to the non-feasibility of constantly patrolling the 3,300 km western coastline. Officers said the CG conducted many operations in the ambit of maritime security. These included controlling oil pollution resulting from spillage and conducting search and rescue operations. The CG created a simulation of an oil spill and fire. In the oil spill containment operation, which lasted for about an hour and a half, two fire-fighting guns produced jets of water on either sides of the rescuing ship to douse the fire.

A Chetak and a Dornier aircraft were pressed into service to demonstrate the spraying of a chemical called oil spill dispersant (OSD), which reacts with the oil.

The towing away of the affected ship, the lifting of a yellow PC 3 bucket for spraying the chemical and a search and rescue operation, all formed part of the CGs repertoire.

G P Raj, Commandant CG in Andhra Pradesh said, “Transportation of oil by sea is very cheap. The oil from the Gulf travels along the Goa and Kerala coasts and passes through the Malacca Strait to reach Japan and the South Asian countries.”

Dr. J.S. Sharma, Deputy General Manager (Chemistry), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), said the increase in oil traffic had subsequently increase the risk of spillage.

 

[VayuSena1]

Indian Coast Guard Station to be commissioned at Karwar

Karwar (Karnataka), Nov 3(ANI): The Government will commission the Coast Guard station at Karnataka’s Karwar district on Wednesday for strengthening maritime and coastal security.

Director General Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anil Chopra will commission the station, which is being established based on the security assessment undertaken by the Government.

The station will function under the operational command of Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West), while Commandant (JG) Anil Sharma has been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the station.

The station will have two fast speedboats, to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls on as required basis.

Post 26/11, the responsibility of the Coastal Security from shoreline up to territorial waters has also been entrusted to the Coast Guard due to which 14 more stations will be established to address the security gap along the coastline.

In addition, the Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Commander Coastal Command, with the responsibility for overall coordination between various Central and State agencies, in all matters relating to the coastal security.

In response to the enhanced responsibilities, the Coast Guard is pursuing urgent enhancement of its surveillance capabilities so as to meet its tasks and responsibilities effectively.

The present force-levels and manpower are projected to double in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower. The setting up of 15 additional stations is part of this effort. (ANI)

It is too early to boast anything about being the "best". I have to admit on a personal note that despite all the great potential, Indian ministries and officials do tend to be more ceremonial and pompous BEFORE delivering their words.

After 26/11, The Coast Guard has a lot of work to do that would include replacing ALL vintage equipment as well as doubling the current water and air fleet size. South Korea has a larger and more well-armed Coast Guard than ours despite the country being almost one eighth our size.

I shall go to the extent to openly say that Coast Guard is the most neglected of all armed forces. The government still needs to find the right balance between us, Army, Navy and Coast Guard (even though the latter has been put under Navy's eye oflate).

 

[bsn4u1985]

Coast Guard to double fleet in 3 yrs

Coast Guard to double fleet in 3 yrs


One of several measures in coordination with Navy to ensure there's no 26/11 repeat

The Navy and the Coast Guard are walking the extra mile (see box) to ensure India does not suffer another 26/11.

The terrorists involved in the attacks had allegedly sailed from Pakistan to India in the shadows of a major naval exercise by the Indian Navy called Defence of Gujarat.

Said Defence Spokesp-erson Captain Manoharan Nambiar, "The responsibilities of the Navy and the Coast Guard on matters pertaining to maritime security have become more specific.

It has become easier for officers who are assigned duties to focus their energies on these clearly-defined responsibilities. The Navy is like an elder brother to the Coast Guard."



Five Coast Guard stations are to be set up in and around the Mumbai coast. Inspector General S P S Basra of the Coast Guard on Thursday announced the inauguration of a new station at Karawar in Karnataka.

Said Director General Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, "We are doubling our fleet in the next three years.

We are coordinating on a regular basis with local administration, port authorities, fishermen and customs officials, to ensure every loophole is plugged."

Security Measures since 26/11

Positive steps

Commander-in-Chief of Indian Navy has been made responsible for coastal defence

Coast Guard commands have been asked to coordinate with the Navy in matters pertaining to coastal defence

The western coast that stretches from the border with Pakistan to Kerala has been divided into two separate units to facilitate supervision and bolster security

Five Coast Guard stations have been proposed in and around Mumbai

New Coast Guard station was inaugurated in Karwar on November 3

Coast Guard to double its fleet by 2012

Special checks to be made by the International Maritime Organisation to ensure that the International Ships Port Security Code (ISPSC) is observed, and no cargo lands on any port in India without being checked

Unfinished tasks ahead

Hundreds of earth-carrying dumpers continue to ply in the Mumbai docks without Navy, police or Coast Guard supervision.

Customs officers admitted to this reporter that the authorities had no knowledge of the background of the owners or drivers of these dumpers

Security drills like Blue and Red to defend the coast of Karwar undertaken recently have revealed that India
coastal security is far from impregnable

Coast Guard to double fleet in 3 yrs

 

[bsn4u1985]

Coast Guard, Navy ill-equipped

Coast Guard, Navy ill-equipped


KOCHI: At a time when high-level coastal security review meetings are frequently taking place in the country’s capital, the security scenario down Kerala’s coastal belt has gone haywire due to the inefficiency of the Navy and the Coast Guard.

The latest incident of intrusion by a foreign yacht off the Kochi coast on Friday night has cast shadow over the existing coastal surveillance system and has brought to light the inefficiency of the Coast Guard and the Navy.

According to the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) officials, the French yacht with two foreigners onboard managed to come close to the Cochin Port from the high seas without being noticed by the coast guard, the Navy and the other security agencies.

The Coast Guard and the Navy came to know about the incident only after officials of the Central Industrial Security Force(CISF) at Cochin Port noticed the yacht which was anchored near the Port. Subsequently, CISF officials took the two foreigners into custody.

Ironically, it was only a month ago that the Navy, the Indian Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Kerala Police, the security wing of the shipyard, the CISF and the Customs Department jointly conducted a two-day coastal security exercise, styled `Triton’ off the Kochi coast to prepare themselves to meet any eventuality if an incursion takes place.

When enquired about the incident, senior Coast Guard officials said that they do not have the required manpower and vessels to monitor the entire coastal belt of the State.

“We have only two vessels, which are currently engaged in rescue operations after around 150 fishing boats went missing in the Arabian sea. We have been doing our best with the limited facilities we have for coastal surveillance.

At times we have to devote ourselves more on rescue operations,” a Coast Guard official said and added that as far as Kochi was concerned, a lot of foreign yachts visit the Part and it was impossible for the Coast Guard to check each and every yacht.

Highly placed sources in the Police Department said that coastal surveillance would get a short in the arm once the coastal police station comes up in Kochi.

They said that construction of the coastal police station in Kochi had been completed and it was likely to be inaugurated on November 21.

“We have received two hightech interceptor boats. Coastal security will be enhanced once the police starts patrolling, in coordination with the other agencies concerned,” the officials said.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Coast+Guard,+Navy+ill-equipped&artid=z5m7V1kFMvM=&SectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&MainSectionID=9R67TMeNb/w=&SEO=&SectionName=gUhH3Holuas=

 

[sandeepdg]

The plans look good on paper, but as long as these plan are not realised, nothing much can be said about our capabilities vis-a-vis the best coast gurad forces of the world.

 

[RPK]

India to have integrated coastal security: Antony

A day before the first anniversary of the attack on Mumbai by sea-borne terrorists, Defence Minister AK Antony on Wednesday said an integrated approach has been put in place for the security of country's 7,516-km long shoreline.

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Antony said that to check the effectiveness of the new system, joint and operational exercises between navy, the Coast Guard, police and customs are being under taken.

"The government has accorded top priority to coastal security and for this an integrated approach has been put in place. The intelligence-sharing mechanism has been streamlined through the creation of joint operation centres and multi-agency coordination mechanism," Antony said.

"Surface and air surveillance has been enhanced by the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard ships and aircraft all along the coast and in all offshore development areas," said Antony.

Ten armed terrorists sneaked into Mumbai undetected through its coast on Nov 26 last year and unleashed a mayhem for the next 60 hours. The attack left over 170 people, including many foreign nationals, killed.

"Further, joint and operational exercises are taking place between the navy, the Coast Guard, police and customs in order to check the effectiveness of the new systems.

"The centre is funding the states and union territories through coastal security scheme for the operationalisation of coastal police stations, patrol boats etc. The Indian Coast Guard has also trained 1,515 state police personnel," Antony added.

 

[RAM]

India Bolsters Coastal Security After 2008 Attack

NEW DELHI - India has greatly strengthened its coastal security a year since the Nov. 26 Mumbai terror attacks, which came through a sea route.

The Indian government is buying equipment and weapons for coastal security on a fast-track basis as it accords top priority to coastal protection, said a senior Indian Defence Ministry official.


Discussing the plan before Parliament Nov. 25, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said, "The intelligence-sharing mechanism has been streamlined through the creation of joint operation centers and a multi-agency coordination mechanism. Surface and air surveillance has been enhanced by Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships and aircraft all along the coast and in all offshore development areas."The Indian Navy and the Coast Guards also have been holding routine joint exercises.

The Defence Ministry had set up a high-level mechanism to regularly review its coastal security status following the attacks.The Coast Guard is also acquiring additional 20 fast patrol vehicles, 41 interceptor boats, 12 coastal surveillance aircraft and seven off-shore patrol vehicles. There is also a plan to establish a chain of 46 coastal radars spanning nine coastal stations across the country.

India Bolsters Coastal Security After 2008 Attack - Defense News

 

[ppgj]

Coastal security: Navy’s report card | StratPost

Coastal security: Navy’s report card
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
By Saurabh Joshi

The Indian Navy has announced the measures it has taken since the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai for enhancing coastal security. These measures include augmentation of systemic efficiencies, increased surveillance patrols, coastal security exercises and operations and training of personnel in collaboration with other agencies.

A major problem, the lack of integration and coordination between various agencies involved in various aspects of coastal security has been claimed to be rectified. “There is today unprecedented coordination, synergy and understanding between all agencies. The resources and security structures of all the stakeholders are being utilized more effectively. Intelligence and information sharing has undergone a transformational change. Real time information flow between all stake holders has resulted in more immediate response by the sea going agencies to a developing situation,” the Navy said in a statement.

Crucially, the four Joint Operation Centers, which the Navy calls the ‘hub of all the action’ have been set up at all Naval Commands. “All coastal security operations are now coordinated from the Joint Operations Center, which are manned round the clock by Naval and Coast Guard teams. In addition, the state Marine Police and other agencies such as Customs, Intelligence Bureau, Ports etc are also networked with these centers. Besides the four Joint Operation Centers at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair, each coastal district also has its own Operation Center for coordinating activity in their districts,” says Commander PVS Satish, Naval spokesman.

The Navy has conducted surveillance patrols in coordination with the Coast Guard, Marine Police of coastal states as well as with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). “Patrols by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard are closely coordinated so as to maximize efforts and keep the entire coast under surveillance. The Marine Police of each coastal state has been assisted by the Navy and Coast Guard for coastal patrols. CISF units deployed at all major ports are also being similarly assisted,” said the Navy, adding, “Because of increased surveillance, about 100 fishing vessels from Sri Lanka, operating in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) were apprehended in the past 7-8 months. Also because of better surveillance and alertness, ships straying into our waters are being immediately noticed and interrogated. For example MV (Merchant Vessel) Greta was interrogated and boarded when it strayed off its course and closed Kerala coast on 31 Oct 09.”

The Navy has also provided training in maritime operations to the Marine Police of coastal states and CISF are not fully trained in maritime tasks. “263 CISF personnel have already undergone training at INS Chilka, the premier training establishment for sailors in the Indian Navy. This training is planned to continue. Local Naval and Coast Guard elements in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Maharashtra have also taken up similar training for the Marine Police. Nearly 1600 marine police personnel have been trained,” says Commander Satish.

The Navy has highlighted three operations conducted with the Coast Guard in particular on the west coast on the basis of information indicating an increased threat perception. Commander Satish says, “Such operations were launched specifically for 03 days in Jul 09 and 28 days in Sep-Oct 2009. During this period ships and aircraft of the Navy and Coast Guard kept the West coast of India under continuous surveillance and thorough investigations and checks of various ships, boats and fishing vessels were carried out. For example, during one such operation conducted on the West coast, about 165 merchant vessels and 260 fishing vessels were interrogated and investigated by IN and ICG units.” He also added, “Nearly 100-200 boats are interrogated every month in the Western Offshore area by naval units.”

The Navy says it has conducted coastal security exercises in every coastal state in conjunction with the Coast Guard, marine police, customs, immigration and Port authorities. “In all eight exercises on West coast, four on east coast and two in A&N Islands have been conducted. During these exercises several contingency scenarios are simulated, including hijacking of fishing craft, landing of terrorists on the coast, stowaways on ships etc,” says Commander Satish.

He also says that an important element of these coastal security measures has been to increase the collation of human intelligence. The Navy has run awareness campaigns for this purpose to use the huge fishing community in coastal areas as ‘eyes and ears’ of the coastal security scheme. “They could provide valuable information of any out of the ordinary happenings,” says Commander Satish, also adding, “Villagers and fishermen in almost every coastal village have been sensitized to threats from the sea and the measures they could take to contribute to coastal security. This is an ongoing endeavor, all along the coast of India all coastal districts will be visited regularly by such teams,” he says referring to the joint motorcycle rally teams comprising personnel from the Navy, Coast Guard and State Police who have conducted awareness campaigns in all coastal districts of the country.

 

[RPK]

PIB Press Release

Coastal Security

Intelligence agencies keep sending the Government advisories on Coastal Security which are acted upon by Navy and Coast Guard expeditiously. In view of the sensitivity of coastal security of this region, an integrated approach has been put in place to strengthen the coastal security. The coastal surveillance and patrolling has been enhanced. Joint and operational exercises are taking place on regular basis between Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Customs and others to check the effectiveness of the new systems. During the current year, a total of 14 Pakistani fishing boats with 109 Pakistani crew have been apprehended by Coast Guard whilst fishing in Indian waters for violation under MZI Act 1981. The apprehended fishing boats along with crew had been handed over to local police at designated port ‘Okha’.

Government has accorded top priority for beefing up coastal security. After careful review of the same, an integrated approach has been put in place. The intelligence-sharing mechanism has been streamlined through the creation of Joint Operation Centres and multi agency coordination mechanism. The increase of manpower, assets and other infrastructure required for strengthening the coastal security and meeting the security threats is an ongoing process.

The Government has approved setting up of twelve additional Coast Guard Stations in the country including two stations at Nizampatnam and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Appropriate steps have been taken for strengthening coastal surveillance and security, including installation of radars.

 

[enlightened1]

Coast Guard to triple force levels to check 26/11-type attacks​

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/28/coastguard-to-triple-force-levels-to-check-2611-typeattac.html​

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/28/coastguard-to-triple-force-levels-to-check-2611-typeattac.htmlhttp://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/28/coastguard-to-triple-force-levels-to-check-2611-typeattac.html

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): The Indian Coast Guard is all set to double its force levels and manpower in the next few years and triple it in the next decade in order to protect the country's maritime zones and assets so that another 26/11-type attack does not happen in the future.
To augment the force level, the government has sanctioned 40, ships, 20 boats and 42 aircrafts. Seven offshore patrol; vessels, 20 fast patrol vessels and 12 Dornier aircrafts have also been sanctioned.


"The Coast Guard is well on its way to becoming the strongest and most potent non-military maritime force in the Indian Ocean Region, as well as fourth largest Coast Guard in the world," said Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Director General of the ICG.

Vice Admiral Chopra said in order to augment the manpower a total of 3299 personnel will be inducted this year.

Post-26/11 five ships, including one advanced offshore vehicle, were commissioned last year, enhancing the Coast Guards operational capability.

In 2009, the Coast Guard conducted 14 coastal security exercises and 18 operations (based on intelligence inputs).

Vice Admiral Chopra said patrolling and surveillance by the Coast Guard has been enhanced exponentially and the ICG is conducting regular exercises with all maritime agencies involved in maritime security to the be prepared all the time.

To fill in the gaps in the coastal security, assistance is being provided to the coastal states by the ICG, based on which 131 additional coastal police stations have been proposed under the Coastal Security Scheme.

For enhancing the surveillance capabilities, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said that a coastal surveillance network along the coastline is being established.

"The aim of this network is to create fully integrated infrastructure to achieve real time coastal surveillance from remote locations," said the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard also plans to have a total of 40 stations by 2012. It has commissioned a Coast Guard station at Hutbay in 2009 and a ship E146 at Porbandar to facilitate effective sea control.

The Coast Guard fleet at present comprises of 43 ships, 23 boats and 45 aircrafts. The ICG has 27 coast guard stations and eight air stations located in nine coastal states. It has an approximate strength of 7500 personnel.By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)

 

[enlightened1]

'Not A Single Place On Indian Coastline To Be Without Radar And Surveillance By 2011,' DG-ICG​

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/01/not-single-place-on-indian-coastline-to.html​

http://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/01/not-single-place-on-indian-coastline-to.htmlhttp://chhindits.blogspot.com/2010/01/not-single-place-on-indian-coastline-to.html

With an aim to create a fully integrated infrastructure in order to achieve real time coastal surveillance from remote locations, a coastal surveillance network along the coastline is being established, to enhance the surveillance capabilities and effective maritime domain awareness. Announcing this on the 33rd Indian Coast Guard Day, to be celebrated on February 1, Director General Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, said here today that, "This is a Rs 350 crore project which would be in place by 2011, wherein there would be not a single place on the Indian coastline which would not be under the radar and surveillance."

Speaking on the occassion of the annual press conference ahead of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Day, Vice Admiral Chopra said that there has been a plan to put radars on tall infrastructures like light houses, which were there all over the coastline, for the past four-five years, but besides picking up contacts, it was important to identify them. The radars would pick contacts and the sensors would identify them, the information from which would be used centrally for coastal security, by sharing it at different levels with maritime operational authorities for responding to threats. The coastal surveillance network would be strengthened by the inclusion of optronics and other electronic sensors, which would be operational soon.

Talking about the smallest defence service, which grew from two naval frigates to 43 ships, 23 boats and 45 aircraft, the force which is grappling with a manpower challenge with its present strength of 7500 personnel, the DG on the occassion said that by 2012 the ICG would have a total of 40 ICG stations. The DG spoke about the need for quick augmentation of force levels, manpower and associated infrastructure, as coastal security post 26/11 had put the ICG on centre-stage. To meet the demands of the same, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had sanctioned 40 ships, 20 boats, 42 aircraft, nine stations, around 3200 manpower, and new regional headquarters.

Vice Admiral Chopra informed that in the past one year, the ICG had conducted 14 coastal security exercises and 18 operations jointly with the Indian Navy, to check infiltration, based on intelligence inputs, all of which were successful, said the DG, as the attempts were stemmed, and nothing could be detected.

To recognise the immediate need to identify the vulnerabilities and gaps in coastal security, assistance was being provided to the coastal states by the ICG, based on which 131 additional Coastal Police stations have been proposed by the service in the second phase of the coastal security scheme.

 

[Rage]

Just got word of a new Coast Guard station set up at the Andamand & Nicobar Islands. The station has apparently been set up at Hut Bay, on Little Andaman Island, the last of the islands on the Andaman core group, and situated nearly 100 km. from Port Blair.

It is in the vicinity of the 10 degree channel, and is crucial to the hundreds of foreign and Indian cargo ships that traverse there.

Co-incidentally, the North Korean vessel that was detained by Indian authorities in 2009, was also found to be anchored off Hut Bay.