New interceptor boat for Coast Guard in Andaman soon

Port Blair, Oct 9 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard will soon acquire a new high speed interceptor boat in Andaman and Nicobar to strengthen the surveillance around the strategically important remote islands.

''The 22 mtr new C-104 high speed interceptor boat is scheduled to arrive from Chennai,'' Inspector General S P Sharma, the Commander Coast Guard of the Union Territory told mediapersons here.

Commander Sharma further said the regional headquarters of Port Blair was responsible for safe guarding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around these islands, which forms about 30 per cent of total EEZ in the mainland and 26 per cent of coast line.

''The interceptor will be stationed at Campbell Bay alongwith the existing other two boats at Coast Guard base there,'' he said adding that the Regional Headquarters had two Chetak Helicopters, one OPV, five IPVS, FPVS and Dorniers.

The emergency number 1544 is being manned round the clock at Maritime Rescue Coordinator Centre here and Rescue Sub-centres at Diglipur, Campbell Bay to respond to any emergency distress call from any parts of the islands.

UNI