Karwar CG station will operate two speedboats to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls whenever required.
To strengthen security along the Karnataka coast in the backdrop of last year's Mumbai attacks, the government will open a new Coast Guard (CG) station at Karwar tomorrow and arm it with speed boats to counter terror threats.
CG director general Vice Admiral Anil Chopra will commission the new station that is being established based on the security assessment undertaken by the government for strengthening maritime security on the western coast, the defence ministry said here today.
The station will function under the operational command of CG West Region Commander inspector general SPS Basra and it would have Commandant (Junior Grade) Anil Sharma as its commanding officer.
The government has already planned to establish 14 more CG stations to cover all states and Union Territories along the country's 7,500-km long coastline to address the security gap, apart from the Karwar station, in the next few years.
Karwar CG station would operate two fast speedboats to undertake search and rescue, close coast patrol and respond to emergency calls whenever required, the ministry said.
Entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the maritime interests of the country, the CG also ensures safety and protection of offshore assets such as oil rigs, platforms and terminals within India's maritime zones.
The CG also provides protection to fishermen in distress, taking necessary measures to preserve and protect the maritime environment, assisting the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations, measures for the safety of life and property at sea; and for collection of scientific data.
In addition, it is tasked with providing humanitarian assistance and search and rescue at sea.
Post 26/11, the CG was given responsibility of coastal security from shoreline up to territorial waters. The CG director general is also designated as the commander of the new Coastal Command and given charge of overall coordination between various Central and State agencies in security matters.
In response to its enhanced responsibilities, the CG is pursuing urgent fast-track enhancement of its surveillance capabilities, so as to meet its tasks and responsibilities effectively.
The current force-levels and manpower are projected to be doubled in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower.
The setting up of 15 additional stations, including the Karwar station, is part of this effort, the defence ministry said.
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