The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Coast Guard ship launched

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Thursday, Nov 05, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Coast Guard ship launched

Staff Reporter

Media boycotts official ceremony

VISAKHAPATNAM: Highhanded behaviour of officials posted on security by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) at its main gate led to boycott of an official function by mediapersons on Wednesday.

Though the mediapersons were taken in a bus by the staff of HSL to cover an official event – the launching of Coast Guard ship Rani Avanti Bai – a customs official stopped their vehicle at the main gate for sometime.

He also shouted at the crew of a news channel, which came in an OB van for live coverage.

The official objected to the presence of OB van at the prohibited area and asked the driver to leave the place immediately.

Taking strong exception to his behaviour, some reporters and cameramen, who were in the bus, came to the rescue of TV crew and asked the official to behave politely. When he shouted at them, the journalists belonging to the print and electronic media boycotted the event.

HSL apologises

Later, the officials of HSL apologised for the unpleasant situation and claimed that it was due to communication gap between security officials of the yard and customs officials stationed at HSL on security arrangement. They also promised to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incident.

A.P.V.N. Sarma, who retired as Secretary, Shipping, on October 31 was the chief guest.

CGS Rani Avanti Babi – second of five inshore patrol vessels built by HSL – was launched from the slipway by Nutan Kumar, wife of Naresh Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of HSL.

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