Coast Guard to induct superfast patrol boats to tackle piracy in high seas

Built at a cost of Rs 32 crore, two such boats with aluminium hull and jet-propulsion are being built at a shipyard near Surat. A few more are likely to be ordered soon, Coast Guard sources informed.

The Coast Guard have also ordered twin engine light helicopters to conduct aerial surveillance. The choppers are expected to combine with the fast boats in formation to strike at pirates operating in high seas.

Modernising the force assumes significance in light of the fact that the Coast Guard had apprehended hijacked Italian ship, Med Star, off the Kutch coast, in July, this year. The operation comes hot on the heels of the seizure of another hijacked Japanese ship, M V Alondra Rainbow, with 15 pirates on board, late last year.

Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum this evening, Vice-Admiral D’Silva said measures have been adopted to improve prompt exchange of information between law enforcement agencies to foil piracy and armed robbery against ships. Joint exercise would be conducted between maritime law enforcement agencies at regular intervals in the Asia-Pacific region to contain piracy, D’Silva pointed out.

The other important subject discussed in the forum is the second generation `shiploc’, an electronic tracking device to pinpoint the location of the hijacked ship.

Explaining the function of the shiploc, International Maritime Bureau director P Mukundan told this reporter the shiploc with the help of satellite tracking can help the owners find the location of the hijacked vessel and raise an alarm.

The new generation shiploc can be secretly installed on the vessels without the knowledge of the crew. The equipment runs in low voltage and can send continuous signals for years.

The device is manufactured in Europe and costs as low as $280. Only 100 of the 4000-odd ships worldwide is fitted with shiploc, Mukundan pointed out.