Article Posted on : - Jan 20, 2012

Indian Coast Guard Ship C-153. An official photo

VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): Indian Coast Guard will induct 250 ships and 100 aircraft over the next five years, a top official has said.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) Inspector General Satya Prakash Sharma said that the orders for 150 ships have already been placed.

Noting that the Coast Guard was in the forefront in safeguarding maritime interests of the country, he said the new ships would boost its capability in the eastern region.

At present, the Coast Guard has 60 ships and 49 aircraft.

He also informed that six new coast guard stations, one each in Kolkata and Odisha, two each in Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry would be established soon.

Meanwhile, three of its ships, Vikram, Chandbibi and Ramadevi, were decommissioned Thursday with full military honours.