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Seaing for themselves

The experience of being aboard a Coast Guard vessel is an unforgettable one

HAVING A ROLLING TIME Members of Prashanta Nivas on board the CGS Vijaya

It is not often that civilians get a chance to interact with armed forces personnel at close quarters. So, when the Indian Coast Guard sent out invitations to a select few citizens including the media, senior revenue and police officials as well as members of an orphanage to be a part of family day out on sea as part of Coast Guard Raising Day, it was an opportunity not to be missed.

The 150-odd invited guests stepped on board Coast Guard Ship Vijaya, an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) at 9.30 a.m. on a bright sunny Wednesday. CGS Vijaya soon made her way to the Arabian Sea accompanied by CGS Annie Besant and Sarojini Naidu, both Mangalore based fast patrol vessels (FPVs).

While the 100-odd sailors and officers on board CGS Vijaya seemed to enjoy the company on board, the guests made themselves comfortable tucking into the refreshments provided. Soon the action began with the Coast Guard personnel showing their prowess with weapons by firing a light machine gun on a floating target and then boarding mock target vessels.

The azure waters of Arabian Sea, some 16 km off the Mangalore coast, gave one the feeling of being lost in the middle of nowhere. Only a few fishing vessels going about their routine chores and merchant vessels waiting to get into New Mangalore Port seemed to break the monotony. The roll and pitch of the ships also left a few queasy.

While the mediapersons in general and photographers in particular had a field day capturing the exciting moments, the 50-odd members from Prashanta Nivas, a city-based orphanage under the leadership of Lucy Rudrigues, were having a field day singing on the helicopter deck. The Coast Guard officials meanwhile handled everything all the questions the media hurled at them on the bridge.

It came as total surprise when Commandant K.B.L. Bhatnagar, skipper of CGS Vijaya confided that the amount of talk going on over the radio in the bridge was very rare. "We maintain absolute radio silence lest we give our position away during the course of routine patrols. Today, this is given a go by for it is important to ensure clock work precision in the operations planned."

Commandant Trideep S. Sajwan, operations officer is most sought after by media who are literally lost at sea trying to comprehend which is the starboard and the port side of the ship. Breaking down Coast Guard lingo into journalese is not easy, but Sajwan soon gets into groove and handles queries hurled at him. He is also more than willing to share a few of his operational experience with media.

Commandant Bhatnagar, who was all along guiding action from the bridge, finally came down to see off his special guests — the orphans from Prashanta Nivas. They mobbed him to fire a few questions at him for themselves. The joy on their faces brought a smile to Bhatnagar's face. The Coast Guard certainly made the day for them.

JAIDEEP SHENOY

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