Mumbai: The Coast Guard West Region commander Inspector General Bhisham Sharma interacted with the media on Thursday afternoon highlighting the pivotal role played by the sentinel of the seas protecting Indian exclusive economic zones and maritime interests.
The Coast Gaurd western region conducted 65 Search and Rescue (SAR) missions, 17 medical evacuations, foiled three smuggling attempts and three pollution and fire fighting operations saving over 122 lives at sea.
“The Indian Coast Guard’s operations go beyond security focusing on preserving the environment, preventing illegal activities, conducting search and rescue missions and maintaining law and order in our vast maritime domain,” reiterated Coast Gaurd IG Bhimsham Sharma.
He further added that unregulated & cross border fishing, drug trafficking, transnational maritime crimes and hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were the biggest challenge for the Coast Guard.
The regional commander shared the varied responsibilities of the Indian Coast Gaurd enforcing maritime rules, provide safety to maritime vessels from pirate attacks and natural calamities, assist scientific data collection, prevent narcotics smuggling and human trafficking, provide assistance to distressed fishermen at sea and prevention of maritime pollution like oil spills.
The primary role of the Coast Gaurd is Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, Coastal security and marine pollution control and monitoring covering 2160 kms of coastline almost a million sq kms of exclusive economic zone.
The Coast Gaurd has 25 offshore patrol vessels, three pollution response ships, 43 fast patrol vessels and 63 interceptor boats along with a fleet of 14 hovercraft for patrolling and surveillance of vast Arabian sea on the west coast.
The aerial assets of the Coast Guard include 39 Dornier Aircrafts, 19 Chetak helicopters and 18 Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) to patrol the 12 nautical miles (NM) Territorial Water border for Coastal security, Narcotics control and marine crimes while securing 24 NM Border in contiguous zone sanitation for narcotics and human trafficking with another 200 Nm border of Exclusive Economic Zones for Fisheries, Pollution Response, Illegal Surveying, Mining, exploration.
