INDIAN COAST GUARD STATION ANDROTH COMMISSIONED

 

Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, Androth 12 April 2012

 

          Indian Coast Guard Station Androth, the third Coast Guard Station in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands, was commissioned here today by VAdm KN Sushil, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, in the presence of VAdm MP Muralidharan, AVSM, NM, Director General, Indian Coast Guard. IG SPS Basra, YSM, PTM, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) and senior officials from the Central and UT Administration witnessed the Commissioning Ceremony.

 

          The Station is part of ongoing efforts by the Coast Guard to strengthen coastal security in the island territories. The Station would be instrumental in monitoring sea-lanes of communication passing close to the islands, undertake surveillance in the Indian EEZ, as also prevent maritime crimes such as piracy and poaching of maritime resources.

 

          The Coast Guard already operates two stations in the strategically important islands at Kavaratti and Minicoy. A District Headquarter was also commissioned at Kavaratti in Dec 10 by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri AK Antony, as part of a comprehensive security review undertaken post 26/11. This has enabled day-to-day functioning of the Coast Guard to be directed and effectively monitored from the island territories itself, rather than the Coast Guard District Headquarter-4 located at Kochi as was the case previously. Additionally, the Coast Guard is also in the process of setting up a chain of static sensors with Automatic Identification System along the entire coastline of the country to enable effective monitoring of shipping and fishing traffic. A Coast Guard Air Station at Minicoy is also on the anvil.

 

          In his address during the Commissioning Ceremony, VAdm Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command dwelt upon the need for continuing coordination and synergy between various stakeholders involved in maritime and coastal security to overcome existing challenges. VAdm Muralidharan, Director General Indian Coast Guard highlighted that several far-reaching initiatives had been taken by the Coast Guard to augment force levels as also manpower to meet existing and future maritime challenges. Setting up of Stations at strategically important locations, such as this, would provide requisite fillip to coastal security efforts, he stated.

 

          The Station will function under the administrative and operational control of Commander, Coast Guard Region (West) through the Commander, Coast Guard District HQ-12 (L&M) located at Kavaratti.  Comdt P Shyam Kumar is the Commanding Officer of the Station, which has a complement of 47 Coast Guard personnel.