VASCO
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the fourth largest force in the world, has seized contraband worth about Rs 1,500 crore and apprehended over 10 foreign fishing boats with 80 miscreants illegally operating in the Indian EEZ in 2020, as part of efforts to secure the Indian Coast.
The ICG, which is celebrating its 45th Raising Day on February 1, made a modest beginning with just seven surface platforms in 1978 and has grown into a formidable force with 156 ships and 62 aircraft in its inventory.
It is likely to achieve targeted force levels of 200 surface platforms and 80 aircraft by 2025, states an ICG press note.
The ICG is reported to have played a significant role in securing the Indian Coast and enforcing regulations within the Maritime Zones of India. It has saved over 10,000 lives and apprehending around 14,000 miscreants since inception in 1977. On an average, the ICG saves one life every second day at sea.
“Despite restrictions imposed by the Covid pandemic, ICG maintained 24x7 vigil in the Exclusive Economic Zone by deploying about 50 ships and 12 aircraft daily.”
“The deterrence at sea and coordinated air surveillance by the service enabled seizure of contraband worth about Rs 1,500 crore and apprehension of more than 10 foreign fishing boats with 80 miscreants illegally operating in the Indian EEZ alone in 2020.”
“The ‘Preventive and Measured Response’ stance of operations introduced just over a year ago ensured that over 6,000 fishing boats with about 40,000 fishermen were escorted to safe harbours during the passage of 11 cyclones last year, thus averting loss of lives and property at sea,” stated the ICG.
“The ICG created maritime history in dousing a raging fire onboard the 333 M long Very Large Crude Carrier Motor Tanker New Diamond with about 3 Lakh Metric Tonnes of crude oil off Sri Lanka, thereby averting a major ecological disaster.”
“Further, ICG also provided Pollution Response assistance to Mauritius during the grounding of Merchant Vessel Wakashio and provided 30 T of Pollution Response equipment in addition to training.”
“ICG is also collaborating with littoral countries to combat transnational maritime crimes and enhance maritime safety in its area of responsibility and in the Indian Ocean Region,” the ICG added.
The ICG also conducted National Maritime Search & Rescue Board meeting and followed it up with SAR Exercise-2020 (SAREX-2020) to validate the existing mechanism for undertaking Mass Rescue Operations.
The ICG said it also works in close coordination with Central and State agencies to put in place a robust coastal security mechanism.
