Director General, Indian Coast Guard visits Andamans

Port Blair, Nov 13 (UNI) Vice-Admiral R F Contractor, Director General Indian Coast Guard, will visit Andaman&Nicobar from November 14-17.

The Director General is also Chairman of the National Search and Rescue (SAR) Board, which comprises members from central government, coastal state governments and non governmental organisations of sea farers, said Commandant Akshay Jain, Public Relations Officer of Coast Guard in Andamans.

A national level search and rescue exercise has also been planned by the Coast Guard during the DG's visit to the Islands.

''No where in India do passenger ships ply in such large numbers, carrying Islanders and tourists, as in these islands and thus all resource agencies should jointly validate the standard operating procedures for rescue at sea,'' the Coast Guard Commandant said.

Vice-Admiral Contractor, along with the members of SAR board, will review the national level search and rescue exercise being conducted on November 15-16 in the Andaman sea for the first time.

''He will also chair the annual general meeting of Coast Guard Benevolent Association scheduled on November 14,'' Jain added.

UNI