Indian Coast Guard Ship C 153 Commissioned

The Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, ICG, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra cautioned against the vulnerability of the country's coast from inimical agencies.He said, besides posing new challenges for security, it was also detrimental to the economic growth of the nation. He also emphasized that coastal police stations along the Gujarat coast will function on the hub and spoke concept with the Coast Guard. 

He said this while commissioning the Indian Coast Guard Ship C-153 at Porbandar in Gujarat. He said establishment of a Chain of Static Radars along the Indian coastline will create a fully integrated infrastructure to achieve real time monitoring and surveillance of coastal areas from remote locations.

The data would be shared at different levels with all maritime security agencies for quick and effective response to developing situations at sea. Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said necessary funds have been sanctioned to the Indian Coast Guard for new acquisitions. 

All pending cases of acquisitions are being cleared by the Central Govt on a fast track for protecting the nation from the threat emanating from the seas. ICG will have 42 stations and 15 Air units functioning at various strategic locations along the coastline.

The vessel, the 11th and the last in the series, will be based at Veraval. With the induction of C-153, the security of the Gujarat coast will be greatly enhanced. 

The vessel is fitted with that latest state-of-the-art navigation, communication equipment and armament, thus making it an ideal platform for close coast or shallow water operations.