'Savitribai Phule' joins Coast Guard fleet

Mangalore, Dec 4 (UNI) The new Coast Guard Ship "Savitribai Phule", which arrived here today, joined the fleet of two coast guard ships already in operation at the new Mangalore Port.

The ship, which was inducted into the operational control of Coast Guard District Head Quarters, Karnataka, would be commanded by Commandant Donny Michael.

Savitribai Phule was commissioned on October 28 and was deputed to Mumbai after commissioning for Indo-Japanese joint exercises off the coast of Maharastra.

Briefing newsmen here, Commandant M V Baadkar, Commandant of Mangalore Coast Guard said that the 50 metre-long modern ship, fitted with latest communication, navigational equiment and armaments had been added to Coast Guard fleet here to meet any kind of security threat and challenges on these parts of the Westren seaboard.

The ship was capable of carrying out anti-smuggling operations, search and rescue and other charter of duties of Coast Guard. Due to its high speed, it could also respond to a call in a short time, he added.

Com. Baadkar said that the new induction would strengthen the surviellance of Karnataka coast which had been put on alert following the information on possible infiltration of ISI trained militants into the country through the sea route. Such militants would normally select abandoned islands for their extremist activities. Besides seven major islands, coming under Coast Guard survilellance along the Karnataka coast, there were several other uninhabited small islands, situated mainly off Uttar Kannada coast.

Replying a querry, Com Baadkar said that the Union Government's proposal for providing transmitters to all fishing boats on the Indian coast was yet to be implemented. A receptor to have link with all the transmitter had already been installed at the Coast Guard office at Porbandar. If the facility was made available to all fishing boats in the country, it would help those boats caught in mid sea during fishing activities.

Com Michael highlighting the features said that the ship, which joined "Sarojini Naidu" and Kasturba Gandhi", was fifth of its class of Extra Fast Patrol Vessel(XFPV) built by Goa Shipyard Ltd. Her keel was laid on April 28, 2006.

He said that the 50.44-long vessel mts in length and displaces 256 tonnes. It was capable of attaining a speed of 35 knots with endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed. The ship would have five officers and 32 enrolled personnel on board, he added.

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