Chennai, March 25: The Indian Coast Guard on Friday re-based one ship and six boats from Chennai to Andaman and Nicobar Region.
According to officials the decision to rebase the assets was taken to strengthen the maritime border operations in the region.
Among the assets that would find a new base are ICGS Rajkamal and six Interceptor Boats (C-407, C-412, C-414, C-416, C-417 and C-428). "These platforms are rebased to Andaman and Nicobar Region as part of the Coast Guard Headquarter rebasing plan," says an official. The rebasing plan is mainly aimed towards enhancing the coastal security of the newly ICG stations that have been set up to for the effective optimization of the assets. Officials say that the newly-commissioned ICGS Arnvesh has already joined the Eastern CG fleet as part of replacement. On Friday, the Commanding Officers and the crew of the assets were given farewell at the Chennai Port Trust harbour. "This is as a customary tradition of service ceremony in the ICG. We value the services rendered by the men in a particular base," says an official. Soon after the official ceremony, the seven sailing assets set course for Andaman Nicobar. The Indian Army Band played the befitting farewell tune during the occasion. Deputy Inspector General MA Thalha, Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Region (East) was Chief Guest. The Interceptor Boats are being escorted by ICG's Advance Offshore Patrol Vessel Sagar to Port Blair for safe passage. OneIndia News