Proposed air enclave a work in progress, set to boost Coast Guard's capabilities: DG S. Paramesh
Coast Guard Director General S. Paramesh on Saturday described the long-pending proposal for an air enclave for the maritime law enforcement agency in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'work in progress.'
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 on Saturday after inaugurating a new, 76.7-m-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 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.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Five injured crew members of cargo vessel ablaze off Kerala cost brought to Mangaluru
Five injured crew members of the Singapore-flagged container vessel, which caught fire 78 nautical miles off Beypore coast of Kerala on Monday, will be treated in a private hospital in Mangaluru. In a press release, the Mangaluru city police said Indian Navy vessel INS Surat rescued 18 of the 22 crew of MV Wan Hai 503 vessel enroute from Colombo to Mumbai. Of the 18 crew, eight were from China, four each from Taiwan and Myanmar, and two from Indonesia. Four crew members were missing. Five others sustained injuries and two of them were in serious condition. The INS Surat was expected to arrive with the injured and rescued crew at the New Mangaluru Port on Monday night. Arrangements were in place to provide immediate attention to the the injured, the release said. The Indian Coast Guards said Coast Guard ships ICGS Sachet and ICGS Samudra Prahari have been deputed to augment firefighting/boundary cooling efforts. ICGS Rajdoot ship was conducting search and rescue operation for the missing crew members, the Coast Guard release stated.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Six missing after Cessna 414 crashes into Pacific off San Diego coast in US
A twin-engine Cessna 414 aircraft carrying six people crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, on Sunday (June 8) afternoon. Following the major accident, a major search and rescue operation was launched by the US Coast Guard and other agencies. According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the aircraft went down at approximately 12:30 pm (local time), shortly after taking off. The aircraft was reportedly en route to Phoenix, as per flight tracking data from The crash site was located about five miles (8 km) west of the Point Loma peninsula, a San Diego neighbourhood that extends into the ocean. Coast Guard officials said the water depth beneath the debris field is estimated at around 200 feet (61 metres). An eyewitness, Tyson Wislofsky, who was surfing nearby, told local broadcaster NBC 7 that he saw the aircraft descend at an angle, briefly ascend back into the clouds, and then dive steeply into the sea. 'The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water,' Wislofsky said. 'After I saw this splash, about six seconds later, it was dead silent. I knew that they went in the water, nose first, at a high speed.' No identities of those on board have been released, and the Coast Guard has not yet confirmed any survivors. The FAA and the US National Transportation Safety Board have launched a joint investigation into the cause of the crash. Significantly, this comes just three weeks after another fatal crash in the San Diego area in which a small Cessna aircraft went down in foggy conditions, killing six people.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Devotees flock to Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur for Vaikasi Visakam
Madurai: Thousands of devotees thronged the Thiruparankundram Murugan temple near Madurai on Monday to celebrate the auspicious Vaikasi Visakam, marking the birth star of Lord Murugan. The temple, one of the six sacred abodes of the deity, witnessed a massive spiritual gathering as devotees from across Tamil Nadu participated in rituals and offered thanksgiving. The day began with special pujas and abhishekams to the presiding deity. Devotees carried various forms of kavadi—wooden arches, flower garlands, and even milk pots—on their shoulders. Many undertook arduous vows such as piercing their cheeks and tongues with spears, symbolising personal sacrifice and gratitude. Temple authorities and local police made elaborate arrangements to manage the crowd and ensure the smooth conduct of the rituals. Meanwhile, in Tiruchendur, another abode of Lord Murugan, lakhs of devotees gathered for the celebrations, transforming the coastal town into a sea of faith. The skies echoed with chants of 'arohara' as devotees marched to the seashore and temple in vibrant processions. One of the key highlights of the Tiruchendur celebration was the holy sea dip, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings. To ensure the safety of the large crowd entering the sea, the district administration deployed trained swimmers and stationed lifeboats along the shore. Coast Guard personnel were also pressed into service to monitor the situation and assist in emergencies. To manage the unprecedented inflow, special trains and buses were arranged from various parts of Tamil Nadu. Authorities said all logistics, including medical facilities and drinking water stations, were in place to handle the influx.
