Mumbai to get coastal radars to enhance marine security

Mumbai is all set to get coastal radars in a move by the Union government to secure the coastal boarders of the country.

Defence Minister A K Antony will be inaugurate the Static Sensors Project of Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at Mumbai and Porbandar today, an official release said.

The project envisages installation of high end surveillance gadgets like Frequency Diversity Radar, Electro Optic sensors (Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Day Camera, Low Light TV (LLTV) Night Camera and Long Range Thermal Imagers) VHF sets and Met equipment on lighthouses and masts erected on Director General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) Land.

Post-26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, there was an emergent need to strengthen our Coastal Security apparatus. Accordingly, this project was progressed on a fast track.

In the Phase-I of the project, 46 Remote Radar sites would be established at various lighthouses located along the coast line. These sites have been strategically located to provide electronic surveillance of areas of high sensitivity and high traffic density along our coastline. The system is designed to promote surveillance cover upto the 25 nautical miles from the coast line around each Radar sites. It is presently capable of positive identification of vessels carrying class ‘A’ and ‘B’ Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders.

The project of Chain of Static Sensors aims at preventing undetected intrusion by monitoring the movement of vessels plying along our coastline. The project would also aid in enhancing the efficacy of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations coordinated by the Coast Guard. The sensor data generated by the Coastal Surveillance Network would also be shared with other maritime agencies via the NC3I network to generate a comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The project is the first of its kind both in terms of expanse and strategic implications. Despite the inherent complexities of the project, involving multi agency coordination at all levels, the project is nearing completion within the stipulated time line. This project, when implemented completely, would provide the much needed electronic eye to our maritime agencies and provide the envisaged impetus to the overall coastal security apparatus.