Proposed air enclave in Thiruvananthapuram will give a fillip to Coast Guard presence in southern region, says Coast Guard Director General
Once all the approvals are secured and it gets commissioned, the enclave will give a fillip to the Coast Guard's charter of duties including search and rescue (SAR) operations in the southern region, he said. According to him, the enclave will permanently station helicopters, considerably enhancing operational preparedness and response to emergencies out at sea.
'Fixed-wing aircraft can come here on detachment and operate from here,' the Flag Officer told The Hindu after inaugurating a new, 76.7 metre-long jetty for Coast Guard vessels at Vizhinjam.
Although the Coast Guard station at Vizhinjam is equipped with fast-patrol vessels and interceptor boats, air support has to come from Kochi, where the Coast Guard has its regional headquarters. The commissioning of a major seaport at Vizhinjam, SAR related to fishing vessels and maritime emergencies such as the recent sinking of the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa underscore the need for the increased presence of the Coast Guard in the southern part of Kerala.
Expanded Coast Guard presence in Thiruvananthapuram district will definitely help during incidents such as the sinking of MSC Elsa since it is the first responder to maritime emergencies, Mr. Paramesh said. 'It (the sinking of MSC Elsa) is a very unfortunate incident. The matter is being investigated by the Director General Shipping. Once they finish the investigation, we will come to know the reasons that caused the ship to flounder and sink,' he said.
Operational preparedness
The new Coast Guard jetty at Vizhinjam is expected to enhance the Coast Guard's operational preparedness significantly, the Flag Officer said. The construction of the jetty, though started in September 2019, had been delayed on account of the presence of a half-submerged tug at the site. Work was resumed in April 2024. The jetty is 76.7 metres long, eight metres wide and four to six metres deep.
Earlier, Coast Guard vessels in Vizhinjam were forced to depend on commercial berths, which was seen as a major handicap considering the agency's growing responsibilities in the region.
'The new jetty is a very important piece of operational infrastructure for us. We are the first responders to any issue in the maritime arena be it search-and-rescue, medical evacuation or matters related to coastal security. So it is very important for us to have the wherewithal on shore for our ships to berth safely and respond quickly to emergencies out at sea,' said Mr. Paramesh.
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