Coast Guard commissions interceptor boat at Guj's Porbandar

The Coast Guard today commissioned an interceptor boat at Porbandar as part of its efforts to strengthen the security umbrella of the West coast, officials said.

An official release said that Indian Coast Guard Ship C-437 would "strengthen the security umbrella of the West coast and also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling and illegal fishing".

It said that the boat, at 27.80 metres in length with a displacement of 106 tonnes and a maximum speed of 45 knots, was capable of undertaking multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue as well as rendering assistance to boats in distress at sea.

"It is provided with advanced navigational and communication equipment which gives it the capability to respond to any maritime situation," officials said.

The boat, which was commissioned by Coast Guard Commander (West Seaboard) K Natarajan, would be based at Jakhau under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (North West), it said.