Indian Coast Guard : News, Pictures and Discussions.

[RISING SUN]

Indian Coast Guard rescues fishermen from fishing boat in distress
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Apoorva late on Sunday, while on routine patrol off Goa, came to the rescue of fishing boat (FB) Phalaksha (IND-KA-02-MM-524) that encountered technical problem. ICGS Apoorva received VHF message from FB Phalaksha off Malpe coast. On investigation, it was found the boat had drifted due to engine failure. The eight crew onboard were helpless and requested Indian Coast Guard to provide them technical assistance.

The ship's technical team investigated the engine failure and they concluded that starting motor of the engine had burnt and could not be replaced at sea. The boat crew requested ICGS Apoorva to tow them to either Malpe or Karwar. ICGS Apoorva towed the boat off Karwar and handed the boat over to ICGS C-155 off Karwar for further escort. FB Phalaksha was handed over to FB Nirmala off Devadgudda light house as per arrangement made by its owner.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ing-boat-in-distress/articleshow/61632067.cms

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...g-at-rameswaram-fishermen/article20443304.ece

The marine police of the Coastal Security Group registered First Information Report (FIR) against the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday, based on a complaint from a Rameswaram fisherman alleging that he was fired at even as the ICG denied opening fire.

Alleging that the ICG opened fire at them when they were fishing on the high seas on Monday, two injured fishermen, K. Pichai Arokiyadass and S Johnson, produced a 0.22 cm diameter aluminium bullet as proof of firing. The marine police took possession of the bullet.

In his complaint, Arokiyadass said that he, along with five other fishermen were fishing on the high seas, about four nautical miles from Olaikuda in the shore in Indian waters around 3 15 pm when personnel from the ICG vessel - 77 asked them to stop. When they kept moving stating that they had laid the net and could not stop, the coast guard personnel opened fire at them, they alleged.

The ICG personnel gave some ointment to be applied on the wounds and left after obtaining signature from Sandro, the driver of the trawler in a prepared statement. The fishermen were not aware of the content of the statement, he added.

After they stopped the trawler, four ICG personnel got into their boat and beat them with stick and iron rods for not stopping the trawler. They asked whether they knew Hindi and when the fishermen replied in the negative, the coast guard personnel beat them again and asked them to learn Hindi, he said.

The fishermen were treated at Government hospital in Rameswaram on their return to the shore on Tuesday morning. The bullet, after piercing through the left forehand of Arokiyadass, hit the left shoulder of Johnson, the fishermen alleged. Dr Meena Kumari who treated the fishermen described the wounds as ‘gun shot injury’ in her report. “The two fishermen suffered simple injuries and their conditions are stable,” she told The Hindu.

A case has been registered invoking Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC and Section 27(1) of the Arms Act, 1959.

Meanwhile, leaders of fishermen associations condemned the ICG for opening fire on the fishermen and demanded action against those involved in the incident. They have decided to abstain from fishing for a day on Wednesday and stage a demonstration in front of the Rameswaram bus stand on Thursday to register their protest.

Ministry of Defence
14-November, 2017 17:02 IST
Denial of alleged firing on fishermen in Palk Bay

Coast Guard vessel on patrol off IMBL in the Palk Bay was routinely investigating fishing boat namely ‘Jehovah Jireh ’Regn’ No. IND-TN-09-MM-221 at 1440 hours on November 13, 2017 while engaged in pair trawling, which is not permitted in the waters of Tamil Nadu.

On sighting the approaching Coast Guard ship, the fishing boat ‘Jehovah Jireh’ fled away from the scene leaving its nets behind in the water and did not stop despite repeated caution by the Coast Guard ship. During the chase, the boat had also rammed into the Coast Guard ship. After a chase of 50 minutes, the boat was finally stopped and investigated and also cautioned by the Coast Guard ship to stop for checks whenever called upon by the Coast Guard.

The stopping of the fishing boat ‘Jehovah Jireh’ and subsequent investigations were carried out in a peaceful manner as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the Indian Coast Guard. There was no use of force or any firing by the Indian Coast Guard.

The attributability of injury and/or bruises, if any, on the fishermen of the fishing boat ‘Jehovah Jireh’ by the Coast Guard are wholly denied as the investigations were undertaken in a peaceful manner as per the SOP.



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[RISING SUN]

ICG evacuates injured mariner of MT Falcon Victory
Indian Coast Guard Ship C-146 evacuated a 41 years old Indian crew namely Mr. Mukesh Kamlakar Tabib, Senior engine room watch keeper from Singapore flag merchant vessel MT ‘Falcon Victory’ on passage to Singapore braving rough seas on Thursday after midnight operation. The crew who had suffered an injury while working on air conditioner unit leading to amputation of the top part of the finger.
Captain of the merchant vessel MT ‘Falcon Victory’ destined for Singapore requested Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Center Port Blair for urgent medical evacuation of the injured crew. Considering critical situation, Coast Guard medical Officer provided tele-medical advice the to the crew, simultaneously Indian Coast Guard Ship C-146 was deployed for urgent medical evacuation.
At the time of emergency reporting, the vessel was 360 NM south-west of Port Blair while enroute from Fujairah to Singapore. Oil carrying merchant vessel had long passage to next port of call Singapore, therefore it was decided to evacuate crew amid sea. Indian Coast Guard ship C-146 successfully evacuated the crew and headed towards Port Blair with maximum speed. The medical team onboard administered the patient with basic first aid and stabilized the crew enroute prior entering Port Blair in early morning hours. On arrival at Port Blair, the patient in stable condition was immediately admitted at GB Pant hospital, Port Blair for further specialized medical treatment.
http://echoofindia.com/port-blair-icg-evacuates-injured-mariner-mt-falcon-victory-135588

Bharati Defence and Infrastructure delivers vessel to Indian Coast Guard
Bharati Defence and Infrastructure has delivered on 10 November 2017 the fifth in the series of 15 High Speed Interceptor Boat being constructed for the Indian Coast Guard from Mangalore Yard.

The delivery of the vessel comes as a shot in the arm for the Company since it was accomplished in a challenging fund constrained situation and despite, being under Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
http://www.business-standard.com/ar...sel-to-indian-coast-guard-117111601370_1.html

Panel on new coastal force wants Coast Guard to be
A panel comprising the top internal security brass of the country has favoured the strengthening of the Coast Guard for a better safeguarding of the country's maritime boundaries, rather than raising a new coastal security force.

The proposal to raise a new Coastal Border Police Force (CBPF), on the lines of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), like the BSF and the ITBP, was mooted at a meeting convened in August by the Union home ministry with the chiefs of these forces.

The panel comprising the directors general of these forces discussed the matter at a recent meeting and concluded that the Coast Guard would be the best force to counter terror and other security threats along the over-7,000-km-long coastline of the country, official sources said.

The panel was also of the opinion that the Coast Guard should be strengthened by providing advanced surveillance and security gadgets and legal powers to it.

The sources said the panel proposed that the Coast Guard be given an effective backup by the CAPFs deployed in the coastal areas, such as the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Border Security Force (BSF).

It was also discussed whether some personnel of the CAPFs could be sent on a special stint to the Coast Guard to work as external experts.

The recommendations made by the panel were sent to the home ministry, the sources said, adding that the ministry was expected to hold a fresh meeting on the matter soon.

At the August meeting, it was proposed that the new force -- the CBPF -- would guard the maritime frontiers closer to the country's landmass.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) protects the country's maritime interests and enforces the maritime law. The territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone, come under the ICG's jurisdiction.

It also has a war-time role of assisting the Navy.

India has a 7,516-km coastline, touching 13 states and union territories. It also covers around 1,200 islands.
http://www.ptinews.com/news/9241418_Panel-on-new-coastal-force-wants-Coast-Guard-to-be.html

 

[RISING SUN]

Coast guard rescues six from sinking fishing boat
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) rescued six fishermen who were stranded in mid-sea after their boat developed a technical snag and started sinking off Jakhau coast on November 20.

According to coast guard officials, they received a distress call from the fishing boat 'Naukeshwari' that was sinking 42 nautical miles off Jakhau. Following the message, coast guard ship 'Samudra Pavak' was rushed to the site at around 12:30 hours.

"The boat was found capsized and wholly submerged with heavy ingress of water. All the six crew members were rescued and brought back to Porbandar at around 4pm on November 21," ICG said in a statement.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...sinking-fishing-boat/articleshow/61760083.cms

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
21-December, 2017 17:03 IST
Commissioning of Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ICGSSujay

Indian Coast Guard Ship “Sujay”, the sixth in the series of six 105m Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) was commissioned by Director General Indian Coast Guard Shri Rajendra Singh at Goa today in the presence of senior officers from Coast Guard, CMD Goa Shipyard Limited and other senior dignitaries of the Central and State Government.

‘Sujay’ meaning ‘Great Victory’ is projection of Indian Coast Guard’s will and commitment “To serve and Protect” the maritime interest of the nation. The ship is based at Paradip, Odisha under the operational and administrative control of Commander Coast Guard Region (North-East).

This 105 meter OPV has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. The features include 30mm CRN 91 Naval Gun, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), Power Management System (PMS) and High Power External Fire Fighting System. The ship is designed to carry one twin engine Light Helicopter and five high speed boats including two Quick Reaction Inflatable Boats for swift boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.

The ship draws 2350 tons(GRT) propelled by two 9100 KW diesel engines to attain a maximum speed of 23 Knots and has an endurance of 6000 NM at economical speed. The sustenance and reach coupled with the latest and modern equipment and systems, provides her the capability to perform the role of a Command platform to accomplish all Coast Guard charter of duties.

The ship on joining Coast Guard fleet at Paradip, will be deployed extensively for EEZ surveillance and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard Charter, to safeguard the maritime interests of India. Presently, Indian Coast Guard has a fleet of 134 ships and boats and 66 ships and boats are at various stages of construction at different shipyards in India.

ICGS‘Sujay’ is commanded by Deputy Inspector General Yoginder Dhaka and manned by 12 Officers and 94 men.

The commissioning of ICGSSujay will enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s operational capability to discharge the multifarious maritime tasks. The induction of a sophisticated and state-of-the-art OPV will give a fillip to the maritime protection of our vast coastline of Eastern Seaboard in general and the maritime state of Odisha and West Bengal in particular.

MJPS/NM/DK/RP
(Release ID :174705)

The Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Shri Rajendra Singh commissioning the ship “Sujay”, at the commissioning ceremony, at Goa on December 21, 2017.

The Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Shri Rajendra Singh presenting the ships crest to the first CO of the newly commissioned ship “Sujay”, at the commissioning ceremony, at Goa on December 21, 2017.

The Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Shri Rajendra Singh in a group photograph at the commissioning ceremony of the ship “Sujay”, at Goa on December 21, 2017.

 

[Hindustani78]

//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62606394.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

NEW DELHI: Engineering major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today said it has launched the second offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Navy at its greenfield defence shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai.

An OPV is a long-range surface ship with helicopter operation capabilities. Its role includes coastal and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones of India, control and surveillance, among others.

JD Patil, Senior Executive Vice-President and whole- time Director (Defence), L&T said OPV-2 is the ninth defence vessel launched by L&T in the current financial year, as per a company statement.

L&T, the first private Indian shipyard to construct and deliver OPVs for the Indian Coast Guard, received a Rs 1,432- crore order for design and construction of seven OPVs from the Ministry of Defence in March 2015.

"With in-house capabilities to undertake ship design, in-house manufacturing of critical marine equipment, world- class shipyard infrastructure and robust financial strength, L&T is uniquely placed to fulfil the ambitious fleet expansion plans of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard," Patil said.

OPV-2 was formally lowered into the waters of the Bay of Bengal on January 20, the statement said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...elp-icgs-man-coast-better/article22561024.ece

Thiruvananthapuram, January 29, 2018 21:24 IST
Updated: January 29, 2018 21:24 IST

New additions include recce aircraft and rescue helicopter

The Indian Coast Guard Service (ICGS) is all set to base at least two maritime reconnaissance aircraft and a helicopter in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Ockhi cyclone disaster appeared to have given a fillip to the move to acquire a part of the old domestic terminal for ICG’s air operations. Officials said Station Commander, ICG-Vizhinjam, V.K. Varghese had received information that the Centre and State authorities had sanctioned the proposal.

They said the new capability would enhance the Coast Guard’s operational readiness in Peninsular India. The ICG, Vizhinjam, currently operated two fast interceptor boats, one of which (ICGS-47) was instrumental in medically evacuating a fatally injured Chinese sailor from a foreign cargo vessel off the coast of Vizhinjam on January 25.

Officials said the Indian Search and Rescue Area (INSAR) extended up to 200 nautical miles, including waters bordering the exclusive economic zone of the Island of Mauritius. It encompasses some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Over the years, distress calls from foreign merchant vessels, traditional seafaring fishers and foreign navies have beset the ICGS. They included requests for medical evacuation and appeals to track and detain ships involved in mid-sea collisions.

ICGS stations on the coast often received distress calls through satellite phone directly from vessels and others via the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

Last year, the ICG-Vizhinjam located, pursued and detained two foreign vessels that were suspected to have dashed against Indian fishing boats. There have also been instances where ICGS worked in tandem with the Navy to transfer seriously unwell sailors and combatants from foreign Naval vessels to hospitals on the mainland. Those operations have been mostly secretive.

ICG officials said the new air assets to be stationed in Thiruvananthapuram would vastly enhance their command’s surveillance, search, rescue, and contraband, arms and drug interdiction operations. They said the aircraft would increase station’s awareness of its area of operation. The planes were kitted out with the latest maritime surveillance equipment that enabled them to operate effectively in varied weather and light conditions.

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...nese-sailors-death-police/article22554029.ece

The 37-year-old accidentally fell while using a utility hatch aboard the ship, finds preliminary probe

An accidental fall could have caused the death of the 37-year-old Chinese sailor on board a cargo vessel off the coast of Vizhinjam last week, according to State police investigators.

An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessel had evacuated Yushiyang from Vivian Ocean, a Chinese-owned ship sailing under a Panamanian flag, following a medical evacuation call from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Port Blair, on January 25.

Deputy Commissioner of Police V. Ajith Kumar, who boarded the ship on Monday as part of the investigation into the unnatural death of the sailor, told The Hindu that the motorman appeared to have slipped and fallen while using a utility hatch to access the critical mechanical area of the vessel rapidly.

Investigators descended the narrow steel ladder to a metal platform nearly 4 m below deck where other sailors found Yushiyang lying spread-eagled and motionless. “A suffocating smell emanated from the hold of the ship when we opened the hatch,” Mr Ajith said.

Women crime scene experts could not board the ship anchored off Vizhinjam. “It pitched and rolled perilously, and it was difficult for them to clamber on to the slanting ladder from the police patrol boat,” he said.

The police would escort the vessel to the Kochi port and have it berthed for detailed forensic examination. The 21-member crew of the ship are all Chinese. The police recorded their statements with the help of Jeeval Kumar, a Chinese language expert attached to the Military Intelligence Directorate, and Jamsheed, a China-educated doctor practising in Thiruvananthapuram. A sailor stated that he had noted feeble signs of life when Yushiyang was brought up from the platform.

The Vivian Ocean is 167-m-long, 27-m-wide and with a draught of 9 m. It had set sail from the Solomon Islands in Panama on January 21 with a cargo of wood. Kandala was its port of destination. The fatality occurred in international waters 30 nautical miles off Indian coast.

Officials said Indian jurisdiction ended after 12 nautical miles and they could only report their findings to Panama Government as per maritime law. They have conducted a post-mortem examination and held an inquest.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/656923/watch-bdil-presents-vessel-410.html
DH News Service, Mangaluru, Jan 31 2018, 17:22 IST

The patrol vessel was handed over at the Bharati Shipyard on the Taneerbavi beach by BDIL officers to the Coast Guard's officers.

The Indian Coast Guard was presented with Vessel-410 built by Bharati Defense and Infrastructure Limited (BDIL), here in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

The patrol vessel was handed over at the Bharati Shipyard on the Taneerbavi beach by BDIL officers to the Coast Guard's officers. The vessel was then lowered into the sea.

BDIL has so far present 15 patrol vehicles to the Indian Coast Guard. Each vessel is estimated to cost Rs 25 crore.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
15-February, 2018 16:35 IST
Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand called on ADG Indian Coast Guard

A four member delegation led by Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand Ms SuzannahJessep called on Additional Director General, Indian Coast Guard VSR Murthy today. The meeting afforded an opportunity to introduce New Zealand Defence Adviser Commodore Ian Mower, who has recently taken over and is on visit to India from 11 to 17 February 2018. Assistant Chief Strategic Commitments and Engagements, New Zealand Defence Force Brigadier John Boswell also accompanied the delegation.

Wide ranging discussions covering ICG role, responsibilities and the emerging challenges in the maritime domain were deliberated. The meeting also provided an insight into the maritime set up of New Zealand which has one of the largest search and rescue regions (SRR) in the world covering an area of about 30 million square kms extending up to Antarctica.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Coast Guard will get two Pollution Control Vessels (PCV) at an approximate cost of Rs 673 crore.

The PCVs in addition to carrying out pollution control would also be capable of undertaking patrolling, search and rescue and limited salvage and fire-fighting operations at sea.

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...coast-guard/story-ecii3AcFNmtd8mSOfzaGcL.html

A high-speed interceptor boat built by Bharathi Defence and Infrastructure Limited was handed over to the Coast Guard.

The vessel is the sixth of a series of 15 such interceptor boats delivered by BDIL.

Coast Guard principal director DIG HP Singh, DIG Atul Parlikar, BDIL chief operating officer Narendra Kumar, BDIL president and Head Pavithran Alokkan, general manager Mahesh and other senior officials were present on the occasion on Thursday, a Coast Guard release here said.

The vessel is 28 metres long with an aluminium hull,weighs about 60 DWT and is designed for a speed up to 35 knots. It is fitted with a new generation of Arneson Surface Drive propulsion system, propelled by two engines of 1650 kW each, it said.

The interceptor boat, to be based at Kochi, can accommodate 11 crew members and will be used mainly for patrolling.

Deputy commandant Pawan Koyar will be it’s commanding officer, the release said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
07-March, 2018 15:09 IST
Upgradation of Coast Guard

The Government has established a robust maritime search and rescue framework to address and respond various contingencies in deep sea and in coastal areas of India, which includes distress onboard fishing boats and merchant vessels, safety of life during marine incidents and SAR response during Cyclones etc. Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Chairman of National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB), which constitutes members from national / coastal state administration / agencies. The sanctioned strength of Coast Guard has increased from 7,096 in 2008 to 14,500 (as on February, 2018). At present, the average intake of manpower in ICG is 130 officers and 720 Enrolled Personnel per year, which is almost a 100% increase from manpower recruited in 2008.

A Coast Guard station at a particular location is set up taking into consideration the threat perception, vulnerability gap analysis and presence of other maritime organization / security set up in the vicinity.

Alappuzha is located in close proximity of Coast Guard Station Kochi and Coast Guard Station Vizhinjam and regular air surveillance is also undertaken by the Coast Guard Air Enclave at Kochi. These Coast Guard stations are equipped to quickly respond to any urgent emerging situation at sea.

This information was given by Raksha Rajya Mantri Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri KC Venugopal in Lok Sabha today.

 

[Hindustani78]

Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh inaugurating the administrative block of the force’s air enclave at Nedumbassery on Saturday.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...edged-air-enclave-at-cial/article23037389.ece

Aircraft from the facility will patrol western seaboard from Goa to Kerala

The administrative block of a new air enclave for the Coast Guard was opened at Nedumbassery on Saturday.

Coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh inaugurated the facility, which officials said, was a major step towards setting up a full-fledged air enclave. Once operationalised, it will ensure 24x7 air operations of the Coast Guard from the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) towards safeguarding India’s exclusive economic zone and other duties such as search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster management and fighting marine pollution. “Once fully activated, the air enclave will commence air operations on the western seaboard of India, extending from the coastal State of Goa to Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands as well as in the exclusive economic zones of friendly neighbouring nations,” a defence release said.

Mr. Singh gave an outline of the force’s activities towards expanding and strengthening the aviation fleet as well as surface craft and infrastructural developments apart from activating various air establishments in the near future. An air enclave for the force was conceptualised in 2007 with the acquisition of 10.02 acres adjacent to CIAL, and the construction began in 2013. The Navy also has an air enclave at Nedumbassery for operational redundancy, flexibility and for activation during emergencies. It can operate wide-bodied aircraft.

 

[August is Fun]

I voted 80%.

 

[Hindustani78]