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Review of Coast
Guard Fleet at sea was carried out by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri
to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the service. The aim of the event was to display Coast Guard
capabilities and operational readiness to the Hon’ble Raksha
Mantri with a view to give him a first hand experience of this
lean, efficient and visible force.
A total of
14 ships of different class, namely Advanced Offshore
Patrol Vessel (AOPV), Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV),Fast
Patrol Vessel (FPV),Extra Fast Patrol
Vessel (XFPV),
Interceptor Boats (IB) and Air Cushion Vessel (Hovercraft)
participated in the fleet review apart from fixed and rotary
wing aircraft, to display
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Pollution response capabilities.
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Search and Rescue operations and Casualty evacuations at
sea
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High
speed manoeuvres by ACV/IBs
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Surface and aerial firing capabilities of CG surface and
air assets
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External fire fighting capabilities at sea
The exercise commenced with a pollution response
demonstration by an Offshore Patrol Vessel by
laying high sprint boom, oil skimmer and spill spray
arms to combat the oil slick at sea. One of the most
important charter of duties of Coast Guard, viz, Search
And Rescue at sea, was displayed by ICG helicopter wherein
the helicopter picked up a floating survivor from sea
using a rescue strop. ICG Dornier aircraft displayed
air dropping of life raft for survivors at sea. Vertical
replenishment by Chetak helicopter was demonstrated to
display mail transfer at sea.
The Coast Guard ships and aircrafts also displayed
their prowess in Close Range Anti Aircraft firing wherein
the ships engaged an illuminated bomb using ships’ main
armament and small arms. The Dornier and the helicopter
demonstrated their firing capability by firing on a
splash target. The firing was followed by external fire
fighting demonstration by AOPV and OPV. The facility is used
to combat fire onboard other vessels/ boats/oil rigs
at sea.
The Fleet review
culminated with all ships saluting the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
in a steam past formation, followed by a fly past by
CG aircraft.
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