CHENNAI: The Coast Guard Eastern Region is likely to get a new advanced offshore patrol vessel by December-January, the region's Commander, Rajendra Singh, said here on Thursday.

Inspector-General Singh, who was in the city for a two-day District Commanders and regional works conference, told presspersons that the region had at present 19 ships, four Hovercraft, two interceptor boats, six Dorniers and four helicopters.

He said in view of the approaching monsoon , the State Governments had already been told to take adequate measures and fishermen had also been given necessary advice. As regards the region's own fleet, instructions had been given to keep all ships in a state of preparedness. "We have to fully gear up to meet the monsoon." The Coast Guard played a major role during last year's monsoon in the State. .

He said with the influx of refugees from Sri Lanka, the Coast Guard was keeping a day- and-night vigil in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar to ensure that the LTTE or any other terrorist organisation members did not reach the shores.

The Coast Guard also screened refugees on their arrival. Nearly a month ago, a Hovercraft, which was on a regular patrol, rescued refugees who were stranded on an island near Rameswaram.

To a question on shortage of personnel, he said that the headquarters had already taken up the matter with the Ministry of Defence and it was under consideration.

The annual District Commanders conference and the regional works conference was a stock-taking exercise of what the Coast Guard had done in the last one year.

It would analyse the operational, administrative and logistic arrangements and the personnel availability in the past one year. The difficulties, operational strategy, future requirements and peculiarity of the terrain would be discussed.

The Commander said the meeting would also discuss welfare measures and attempts would be made to find solutions to problems such as housing for the personnel.

At the works conference, various aspects of infrastructure development, maintenance, upkeep and ongoing as well as future projects would be deliberated and solutions formalised.

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