Antony to review coastguard fleet tomorrow off Goa

Panaji, Feb 17 (UNI) Defence Minister A K Antony will tomorrow witness the prowess of the Indian Coast Guard during a fleet review off the Goa coast in the Arabian Sea.

The Minister will be familiarised with the operational readiness, workmanship and inter-operability of the coast guard which has been engaged not only in defending the vast maritime borders of the country but also in protecting endangered species, checking smuggling, besides undertaking rescue and search operations.

As many as fifteen ships of all classes and eleven aircraft, besides a hover craft, will showcase their might in the review exercise that will last for about four hours.

The event in presence of the Defence Minister will motivate the jawans and officers, according to Coast Guard's Western Region commander A Rajasekhar.

It is for the second time that such review will be taking place in the country. The first such event was organised off the Chennai coast in presence of the then Defence Minister George Fernandes on February 7, 2003.

UNI