By Team Mangalorean Karwar

Karwar, November 4, 2009: The Government of India commissioned the Coast Guard station at Karwar in Karnataka today for strengthening maritime and coastal security. The station was commissioned ceremoniously by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Director General Coast Guard. The station has been established based on the security assessment undertaken by the Government. Speaking on the occasion, Chopra said government was planning to establish fourteen more such stations to address the security along the western coast of India.

He said that the station will have two fast speedboats, to undertake search  and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls on as required basis. He said that Coast Guard had an additional responsibility post 26/11 incident which exposed the security gap along the shoreline. Outlining various responsibilities entrusted to the Coast Guard, Chopra said apart from providing humanitarian services like search and rescue operations, it was also responsible for ensuring the safety and protection of off- shore assets such as oil rigs, platforms and terminals within India's maritime zones, providing protection to fishermen in distress, taking necessary measures to preserve and protect the maritime environment, assisting the customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations, and collection of scientific data.

He said Coast Guard was closely working with various security agencies in all the states along the coast, and was enhancing its capabilities to ensure effective surveillance. Chopra said 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.

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, he said.

Chopra said that 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.

Vessel

An off-shore patrol vessel (OPV), Vijit was also ceremoniously launched and commissioned by Ragini Chopra, wife of Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra at the Seabird Naval Base. The vessel was designed and built by Goa Shipyard limited (GSL) is well equipped with state of the art navigation and communication equipment automated by the Integrated Bridge System (IBS).

The vessel which is propelled by two engines is capable of operating advanced light helicopter (ALH) and also has a range of 4,500 nautical miles (NM) at a cruising speed of 12 to 14 knots is capable of pollution control against oil spillage and external fire fighting.

Others who were present on this occasion included IGP Western Range Gopal Hosur, deputy commissioner of Uttar Kannada N S Channappa Gowda, SP Raman Gupta and Commodore of Seabird Naval base Ashok Jaiswal.