Indian Coast Guard
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| Indian Coast Guard | |
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| Flag of the Indian Coast Guard. | |
| Motto | वयम् रक्षाम (Sanskrit) Vayam rakshaamah |
| We protect | |
| Agency Overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | August 18, 1978 |
| Preceding agency | Interim coast guard (February 1, 1977) |
| Employees | 5440 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional Structure | |
| Federal agency | India |
| Size | 2.01 million km² (ocean) 7517 km (coastline) |
| General nature |
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| Specialist jurisdiction | Water ways and bodies and-or coastal areas. |
| Operational Structure | |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Regional Headquarters | 3 |
| Facilities | |
| Coast guard stations | 29 |
| Airbases | 5 |
| Patrol and defence vessels | 48 |
| Interceptor vessels | 22 |
| Hovercrafts | 6 |
| Planes | 24 |
| Helicopters | 21 |
| Website | |
| http://www.indiancoastguard.nic.in/ | |
| this information |
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The Indian Coast Guard is the fourth Armed force of India created to guard Republic of India's vast coastline. The Indian Coast Guard's structure is similar to the other Para Military Forces of India such as the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) which are all constituted as 'Armed Forces' of India (so is the Indian Coast Guard), wherein the 'Armed Force' means a Force which is authorised by the Government to Handle and use Arms in the legal discharge of their duties. It was created on 18 August 1978 as an independent entity as per the Coast Guard Act. Its primary objective is to guard India's vast coastline and operates under the effective control of the Ministry of Defense.
The coast guard works closely with the Indian Navy and the Indian Customs Department, Fisheries department and the Police.It generally headed by a naval officer of the rank of Vice-Admiral. India's coast guard has a large number of fast craft including hovercrafts and hydrofoils. They patrol the seas and river mouths. The coast guard has performed a number of commendable tasks of rescuing distressed personnel. It has also apprehended pirates on high seas and cleaned up oil spills. Heavy patrolling of sensitive areas such as Gujarat, West Bengal and Mumbai have resulted in the nabbing of a large number of smugglers and illegal immigrants.
The major historic achievements of the service include the first ever recapture of a pirated ship at high seas. MV Alondra rainbow(renamed to MEGA RAMA by the pirates)was captured by the ICG. The crew however had been murdered in cold blood and their bodies disposed off. The cargo with the pirates was recovered.
The service recently assisted a distressed merchant vessel with a leak in its hold . The ships crew had given up and were ready to abandon the vessel. Assistance reached late at night. Coast guard teams worked overnight and by next morning handed the vessel over to its master. It created maritime history.
After the 26/11 attack, decision was taken to improve the service by providing more assets and setting up nine more stations.[1]
Its responsibilities include:
- Enforcing the provisions of enactment in force in the maritime zones.
- Assisting the Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.
- To preserve & protect the marine environment and control marine pollution.
- Measures for safety of life and property at sea including aid to mariners in distress.
- Ensuring the safety & protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals and other installations in MR zones
- Assist the Indian Navy in times of war
Motto: Vayam Rakshaamah -- "We Protect" in Sanskrit. (It is seen in Devanagari script on the coat of arms.)
The Coast Guard is responsible for the policing of over 2.01 million square kilometres of ocean. The area under its control includes nearly 1,200 islands and a coastline of 7,517 kilometres.
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[edit] History
In 1974, the Government of India set out to create an autonomous coast guard to protect the nation's long coast line. This coast guard was modelled on the lines of the British (HMCG) and American (USCG) coast guards. Like many coast guards around the world, the Indian Coast Guard has borrowed the white paint scheme and "racing stripe" from the U.S. service. The dress uniforms are similar to those of their counterparts from the Indian Navy.
An interim Indian Coast Guard was set up on February 1, 1977 equipped with modern weaponry and quick sea craft with the help of the Indian Navy. The duties and functions of the service were formally defined in the Coast Guard Act, which was passed on 18 August 1978, and came into effect the next day.
The Indian Coast Guard conducts exercises with the other coast guards of the world. In 2006, the Indian Coast Guard conducted exercises with Japanese and Korean counterparts. In May 2005, the Indian Coast Guard agreed to set up liaison links with Pakistan Coast Guard which is formally known as the MSA[Maritime Security Agency].
[edit] Rank Structure
| Coast Guard Rank Structure | Equivalent Indian Navy Rank Structure |
|---|---|
| Director General | Vice Admiral |
| Inspector General | Rear Admiral |
| Deputy Inspector General+ | Commodore |
| Deputy Inspector General | Captain |
| Commandant | Commander |
| Commandant (Junior Grade) | Commander |
| Deputy Commandant | Lieutenant Commander |
| Assistant Commandant | Lieutenant |
| Assistant Commandant† | Acting Lieutenant |
| Assistant Commandant◊ | Midshipman |
+ With three years seniority † Under training after completion of Phase III afloat training and during sub courses ◊ Under training after completion of Phase II afloat training
[edit] Bases
 Triservices Crest. |
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| Military Man Power | |
|---|---|
| Active troops | 1,325,000 (3rd) |
| Reserve forces | 1,155,000 (7th) |
| Paramilitary forces | 1,293,300 (4th) |
| Components | |
| Indian Army |  |
| Indian Air Force |  |
| Indian Navy |  |
| Indian Coast Guard | |
| Paramilitary forces of India | |
| Strategic Nuclear Command | |
| History | |
| Military history of India | |
| Ranks | |
| Air Force ranks and insignia | |
| Army ranks and insignia | |
| Naval ranks and insignia | |
The Coast Guard is headed by a Director General from the Navy, of the rank of Vice Admiral. Coast Guard is presently headed by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, AVSM. Although Coast Guard officers have previously headed the force (in the alternative rank of Director General), these have been naval officers on permanent deputation to the force. The force has a strength of 5440, including 633 officers. Its headquarters is based in the capital, New Delhi. It has:
- three Regional Headquarters at Mumbai, Chennai, and Port Blair
- one District headquarters in each of the nine coastal states and 2 in the Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
- Twenty nine Coast Guard stations[2] at places like Vadinar, Haldia, Kakinada, Okha, Tuticorin and Mandapam.
- two air bases, in Daman and Chennai
- Air enclaves at Goa, Kolkata and Port Blair.
- A new station has been recently commissioned in Pondicherry
patrol vessels, aircraft and helicoptes into service.[3]
[edit] Surface vessels ( 83 are in service )
| Ship Class | Type | Origin | Displacement | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Service: | |||||
| Sankalp class | Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel |  India |
2300 tons | 2 | [4] |
| Samar class | Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel | India |
2005 tons | 4 | |
| Vikram class | Offshore Patrol Vessel | 1220 tons | 9 | ||
| Samudra class | Pollution Control Vessel(PCV) | India |
3300 tons | 3 | |
| Jijabai Class | Inshore Patrol Vessels | 200 tons | 15 | ||
| Vadyar Class | Interceptor Craft | 2.4 tons | 8 | ||
| Bristol Class | Interceptor Craft | 5.5 tons | 4 | ||
| Interceptor Boat | India |
49 tons | 10 | ||
| Fast Patrol Vessel | 215 tons | 8 | |||
| Extra Fast Patrol Vessel (XFPV) | India |
270 tons | 7 | ||
| Seaward Defence Boat | 203 tons | 2 | |||
| Inshore Patrol Craft |  Republic of Korea |
32 tons | 5 | ||
| Air Cushion Vehicle (Hovercraft) |  United Kingdom |
N.A. | 6 | ||
| Under Construction/Order: | |||||
| Sankalp Class | Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel | India |
2230 tons | 1 being built | |
| Vishwast class | Offshore Patrol Vessel | India |
1800 tons | 1 launched + 2 on order |
[5] |
| Inshore Patrol Vessel | India |
275 tons | 2 being built + 3 on order |
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| Interceptor Boat | India |
75 tons | 1 being built + 5 on order |
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[edit] Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[6] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAL Dhruv | India |
Utility helicopter | 4 | ||
| HAL Dhruv | India |
Attack Helicopter | ALH | 5 | |
| Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III |  France |
Utility helicopter | SA 316B | 17 | |
| Dornier Do 228 |  Germany
India |
transport
search and rescue patrol |
Do 228-101 | 24 | 18 built by HAL |
[edit] Gallery
 Indian Coast Guard Personnel During Republic Day Parade. |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Antony clears several proposals to augment coastal security
- ^ Coast Guard station commissioned
- ^ Goa: Coast Guard gets 'ICGS Samrat'
- ^ Antony to induct 5th AOPV ‘ICGS Sankalp’ into coast guard tomorrow
- ^ Centre has Rs 100,000-cr defence budget: Kumar
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official Coast Guard site
- Indian Coast Guard @ India Defence
- Bharat Rakshak page on Coast Guard
- Ministry of Defence
- AeroFlight
- International Lifeboat Federation
- Indian Coast Guard eyes major expansion
- Video @ Youtube.com
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