More choppers to step up air surveillance

Chennai: Indian Coast Guard has proposed to conduct joint exercise with Sri Lankan and Myanmar Coast Guards in the high sea, said Rajendra Singh, Director General of Indian Coast Guard.

Speaking to reporters on board Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pahredar in the Bay of Bengal off Chennai on Friday, Singh said a memorandum of understanding will be signed with the authorities to conduct the joint exercise.
Indian Coast Guard has already signed MoUs with six countries and will rope in Sri Lanka and Myanmar Coast Guards soon.

Coast Guard has plans to purchase 14 Euro copters to boost air surveillance
in the high sea. Euro copters, the twin-engine copters, are capable of remaining in air up to seven hours. In addition to this, the Coast Guard also plans to buy 16 advanced light helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It also plans to set up hover ports in Puducherry and Mangaluru.

He said the Indian Coast Guard personnel were engaged in creating awareness and advising fishermen from Tamil Nadu not to cross borders to pursue the traditional occupation. The personnel held 236 community interactions with fishermen to highlight the issue.  

Coast Guard has proposed to add 66 new ships in its fleet in addition to existing 122 ships in service. Women would be patrolling with the men in deep seas. Nearly 10 per cent of personnel comprise women officers.

Earlier, Singh inspected the joint exercise along with Commissioner General of Korea Coast Guard, Hong, IK, TAE. A high level Korean delegation and senior officials of Korea Coast Guard also attended the event.  

Indian Coast Guard fleet along with South Korean coast guard ship took part in joint exercise - ‘Sahyog-Hyeoblyeog-2016’. The Indian Coastguard ships Sagar, Samudra Pahredar, Rajtarang, Anagh, one Dornier, one Chetak helicopter along with Korea Coastguard ship 3009 participated in the exercise.