Gujarat set to get first hovercraft maintenance unit, defence secy to inaugurate facility in Okha Thursday

The Indian Coast Guard’s north-west region patrols the coast of Gujarat and besides ships, it also has a few hovercrafts. “However, the Coast Guard doesn’t have any dedicated facility for periodic maintenance of these hovercrafts. Presently, our personnel carry out maintenance from make-shift facilities. A need was felt to have a dedicated HMU with all equipment, spares and tools. Accordingly, the government has sanctioned an HMU at Okha,” sources in the Union Home Ministry said.

The ICG keeps its hovercrafts stationed on the western coast of Gujarat and the HMU will cater to these platforms. Defence Secretary Giridhar Armane will inaugurate the HMU at a ceremony to be organised in Okha on Thursday. “The HMU will include facilities for beaching of hovercrafts and carrying out maintenance,” sources added.

The Defence Secretary will also lay the foundation stone of accommodations for Coast Guard staff In Veraval on Friday. The accommodation will be for other-than-married and married categories.