Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Coast Guard vessel displays its anti-terrorist capabilities

G. Anand

A learning experience on high seas on board the Durgabai Deshmukh

Thiruvananthapuram: The Durgabai Deshmukh, the latest fast-patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, was a menacing white presence on the inky sea off the coast of Vizhinjam on Sunday morning.

The vessel was on a mission to display its anti-terrorist capabilities as part of the Indian Coast Guard Day celebrations.

The powerful water-jet engines of the Durgabai left a furiously foaming sea in its wake, as the patrol vessel raced towards a "suspicious" fishing boat 20 km off the coast.

Captain R.K. Roy asked his crew to standby for boarding operations. The Durgabai made a surprisingly speedy halt near the fishing boat.

The twin-jet propulsion engines give the vessel the capability to accelerate, turn and stop almost at will.

In a jiffy, two speedboats carrying three armed men each were lowered to the sea using an onboard crane. The speedboats raced towards the fishing boat as the mother vessel stood vigil, its 30 mm Medak Cannon ready to spit fire.

Within minutes, the Coast Guard men boarded the fishing boat and radioed back that the boat was secured.

The firing of the Medak Cannon was the highpoint of the display. A target, two drums lashed together and marked by a red flag, was set floating on the sea. Night vision devices enable the Medak to pick targets at sea even after dark. The gunner climbed into the turret room of the cannon and swung the muzzle to the starboard side (right) of the vessel. The target bobbed nearly a kilometre away from the patrol vessel. The gunner dipped the muzzle of the cannon and sent four shells skimming across the sea. The deafening crack of the cannon sounded repeatedly as the gunner engaged the target with several straight shots fired in quick succession.

There are five officers and 50 sailors on board the Durgabai. The vessel was recently in Abu Dhabi and Oman as part of an international effort against piracy, terrorism and smuggling of drugs, arms. With Indian security agencies sensing a shift in terrorist operations to South India in the aftermath of the Bangalore attack, the Coast Guard has been put on alert all along the western coast.

The Coast Guard is currently involved in inspecting "Dhow" traffic between Gulf and various ports in Gujurat. Sea-traffic between Beypore and Lakshwadweep is also under scrutiny for possible smuggling of arms and drugs. As the lead Coastal and Maritime Intelligence agency, the Coast Guard is equipping itself with advanced-light helicopters and more fast patrol vessels to counter terrorist threats.

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