In an effort to strengthen maritime security at Palk Strait, Gulf of Mannar and Adam’s Bridge, patrolling vessel Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Interceptor Boat C432 was moved from Karaikal base station to Mandapam station near Madurai-Rameshwaram.
The patrolling vessel, manufactured by Larsen and Toubro at Kattupalli in north Chennai in July 2017, will monitor and prevent any smuggling activity including that of gold, cannabis and sea cucumbers.
Vessel Joint Commander VK Singh handed over the vessel to ICG Mandapam station Commander M Venkatesh at around 4:30 pm.
“We have five hovercraft and two patrolling boats but with the increase in smuggling activities in the region, we have got another vessel — C432 — for enhancement of coastal security. The vessel can move at 45 nautical miles per hour and will patrol in Palk Strait, Gulf of Mannar and Adam’s Bridge regions,” Venkatesh said.
“This will be 24-hour surveillance and hence we will be able to completely stop illegal entry and smuggling in this region,” Venkatesh added.
