Coast Guard displays its prowess off Vizhinjam Harbour

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 11 (UNI) The Indian Coast Guard today presented a breathtaking display of its prowess by conducting exercises off Vizhinjam Harbour showcasing its capabilities and operational readiness.

As a part of commemoration of its 30th anniversary, the Coast Guard conducted various exercises like search and rescue, vertical replenishment, surface firing by Coast Guard ships, aerial firing by Coast Guard aircraft and high speed demonstration.

Top officials of Kerala Government and Indian Armed Forces witnessed the exercises in the presence of the media here today.

Coast Guard Western Region Commander Inspector General A Rajasekhar was present at 'A Day at Sea' along with senior officials of the Coast Guard.

A Defence release here said that last year, the Coast Guard saved over 300 lives at sea and arrested over 100 people for illegal fishing and poaching in addition to providing assistance to stranded vessels and fishing boats at sea, pollution response operations and assistance to civil authorities in recent floods.

Today's exercise saw four Coast Guard ships, one Coast Guard Dornier aircraft and a Coast Guard Chetak helicopter conducting various operations.

ICGS Samar, ICGS Durgabai Deshmukh and ICGS Savitri Bai Phule showcased the might of the Coast Guard by conducting search and rescue, high speed demonstration and aerial firing operations in the sea.

UNI