New Delhi (Staff Correspondent), November 18: When India has its Navy, that is said to be the eights largest in the world, equipped with lethal submarines, warships and aircraft carriers, do we need another force to secure our coasts?
The answer may be no, but when we deep dive into the roles and responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard, you may agree that their presence is instrumental.
The Indian Coast Guards is not just a back-up for the navy during a war.
If we go by the basic mission of the Indian Coast Guard, it is defined as a force that was risen to protect our ocean and offshore wealth including oil, fish and minerals. It further defines its presence as crucial to assist mariners in distress and safeguard life and property at sea. In fact, the coast guards are also responsible for enforcing maritime laws with respect to sea, poaching, smuggling and narcotics and at the same time to preserve marine environment and ecology along with protecting rare species.
But despite all this, extending help to scientists and researchers to collect scientific data is also something the country relies on coast guards for.
The Indian Coast Guard goes by the motto – VAYAM RAKSHAMAH that translates to – we protect.
And these lines have time and again been found to be true to the ICG’s functioning on the ground. And for this, to be effective and efficient, the Indian Government has well equipped our coast guards with vehicles, vessels and weaponry.
The ICG has a variety of ships in its fleet that includes patrol boats for patrolling the nearby waters, fast patrol vessels in case required for a hot pursuit or for chasing pirates and criminals away, and pollution control vessels that ensure that there are no violations of any kinds in the territorial water. For example, one of the Indian coast guard’s ship extends to a length of 98 meters and has a 30-mm gun and two 12.7-mm SRCG guns. This is the kind of dominance that the ICG has on the Indian waters.
The interceptor boats that the ICG has include the Timblo Class, Bristol Class, L&T Class, and ABG Class. While the Timblo Class has a speed of 69 km/h, the Bristol Class has a speed of 64.82 km/h, and the L&T Class and ABG Class both have a speed of 83 km/h.
But its reach and fleet is not only limited to ships. The ICG also has hovercrafts. It operates 18 Griffon-class hovercrafts. Other than this, it is process of acquiring another set of air cushion vehicles which will be indigenously built.
To further boost the coast guards operations, it has also been provided with aircrafts. The ICG has a variety of aircraft, including Dornier 228s, Chetak Alouette III helicopters, and Dhruv advanced light helicopters. These aircraft are equipped with sensors and weapons to monitor and combat unlawful activities at sea. Some ICG aircraft can also detect and disperse oil spills, which is also something the coast guard keeps a tight eye on.
But with such a vast artillery and fleet, the coast guard needs efficient hands to deal with such equipment in their best of efficiency. For this, the ICG has professionally trained officers and enrolled personnel. Officers who are inducted in the ICG receive training at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala. All the manpower of the service; officers and enrolled personnel are professionally trained in their respective domain. Indian Coast Guard’s ab-initio, downstream and specialized training is carried out mostly at various Naval training establishments. After completion of the training, the trained manpower assumes their respective roles to undertake the Coast Guard charter of duties.
In an overview, the Indian Coast Guard operates in a complex environment at sea and in the air. It works at par with the Indian Navy and its operational aspects, maintenance and administrative fronts pose challenges that can only be met with professionally trained manpower.
Even though a country has the navy, coast guards play a vital role which is not only to assist the navy but also to provide for them a basic support closer to the shore while the navy continues to keep a vigil in the high seas.
