Director general Rakesh Pal told ET that the Indian Coast Guard is stepping up patrols and using advanced surveillance methods to deal with the recent rise in piracy. He also said that 55 to 60 surface assets are always at sea to make sure traffic is safe.
Before Coast Guard Day, the senior officer said that suspicious ships going through India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) are regularly boarded and searched. He also said that coast guard ships have been stationed 100 to 150 nautical miles off the coast to be ready for any emergency.
“We need to make sure that the ships and mariners that go through the Indian EEZ are sure that the routes are completely safe.” “Ships going through our east-west corridor know that there will be a quick response in case of any emergency,” the officer said.
He also said that every day there are 55 to 60 ships at sea and that the coast guard runs 10 to 12 planes and works closely with the Indian Navy and other maritime organizations. “We have our eyes and ears everywhere and when we spot any suspicious vessel, we ensure it is boarded and checked,” he stated.
The coast guard’s director general said that new platforms are being added to improve its ability to spy on and stop ships. New technologies are also being added, such as artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance.
He explained that most of the platforms and tools being bought are made in India. Recently, a Rs 1,614 crore deal was made to buy six next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) with AI powers.
“A contract for construction of 14 fast patrol vessels will be signed with Mazagaon Dockyard shortly and we are planning to induct two pollution control vessels and eight fast patrol vessels in the coming two years,” he stated.
The Coast Guard is also almost done buying eight Dornier planes and nine more modern light helicopters (ALH).
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