Karwar gets new Coast Guard station

Karwar, 5 November 2009: The present force-levels and manpower are projected to double in a few years by graduated procurement, with proportionate corresponding infrastructure development and augmentation of the trained manpower, he said.

Chopra said that station will function under the operational command of Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard Region (West), while Commandant (JG) Anil Sharma has been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the station.

Vessel

An off-shore patrol vessel (OPV), Vijit was also ceremoniously launched and commissioned by Ragini Chopra, wife of Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra at the Seabird Naval Base. The vessel was designed and built by Goa Shipyard limited (GSL) is well equipped with state of the art navigation and communication equipment automated by the Integrated Bridge System (IBS).

The vessel which is propelled by two engines is capable of operating advanced light helicopter (ALH) and also has a range of 4,500 nautical miles (NM) at a cruising speed of 12 to 14 knots is capable of pollution control against oil spillage and external fire fighting.

Others who were present on this occasion included IGP Western Range Gopal Hosur, deputy commissioner of Uttar Kannada N S Channappa Gowda, SP Raman Gupta and Commodore of Seabird Naval base Ashok Jaiswal.

Source: Mangalorean.com