The Hindu : Coast Guard vigil on ships flying 'flags of convenience'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 01, 2003

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Coast Guard vigil on ships flying 'flags of convenience'

By Our Special Correspondent

R.S.Vasan

CHENNAI OCT. 31. The Coast Guard Eastern Region Commander, R.S. Vasan, today said the force was maintaining a vigil on ships which flew "flags of convenience", to ensure that they were not used as "platforms of terror".

Ships registered in places which had little or no regulation and those which changed ownership frequently were being watched closely. The antecedents of each ship entering Indian waters was being verified and, if there was a doubt, it would be boarded by Coast Guard personnel "at a safe distance from the harbour," he said.

The Coast Guard was in constant touch with agencies such as the Port authorities, the Marine Police and the Navy to ensure that the ships entering Indian ports were "safe".

A greater use of technological aids and better coordination among the various security and user agencies had been achieved in the past few years. This has helped in sharing of information and apprehending pirates and rogue vessels, he said.

In one recent instance, six youths from Kasimedu, boarded a ship off the Chennai Port at around 11 p.m. The ship crew raised an alarm and a Coast Guard Commanding Officer, acting in tandem with the Marine Police, reached the ship in about an hour. Seeing the police, the six jumped overboard. Two of them were nabbed right there while the others were apprehended later. "While this was an attempt at petty theft, an instance of boarding a vessel is classified as an act of piracy," Commodore Vasan said.

The many additional responsibilities stretched the resources of the Coast Guard. The force had given a "wish list" to the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, on the need for more equipment and manpower. The Ministry was fully aware of the constraints faced by the force, he added. "Ordinarily, a ship is out at sea for about 70 days a year. Now this is about 90 to 100 days. This causes considerable strain on the ship and the men," he said.

Commodore Vasan attained the age of superannuation after a three-year stint in Chennai. Late this evening, a "pulling ceremony" was held to mark his retirement. An Indian Navy officer, he was deputed to the Coast Guard in 2000.

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