by Prerna Katiyar

One major challenge staring at the ICG is manpower shortage. The 13,345-strong force has a staff shortage of 19%.

It is 9 pm and men in crisp white uniforms have just started their night duty at the Kochi remote operating station of the Indian Coast Guard. One duty watch keeper, whose eyes are on a monitor, notices a vessel too close to the coast and springs into action. 

“Mortar vessel Ishwari 5 Bravo-Mike-Yankee 3 come to Channel 16 and identify yourself. Over,” he speaks into a wireless set, referring to the name of the vessel 5BMY3. 

The radio crackles after a few seconds: “This is 5BMY3. Over.” 

“Request your last and next port of call,” the watch keeper says. 

“Mangalore and Vizhinjam.” 

“Request nationality of all crew members.”

“All crew on board are Indians,” says the voice over the radio. 

“Type of cargo on board?” 

“Iron ore pellets.” 

“Any armed guard?” asks the duty officer, simultaneously verifying the details given by the crew on the monitor. There is no inconsistency. 

“No sir.” 

“Maintain 15 miles distance from coast. Bon voyage,” the officer says into the radio. Reassured that there is no threat to the country from this vessel, he returns to the monitor to check out another vessel. 

Interrogating vessels for any seaward threat is one of the jobs of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Other duties include combating maritime crimes, maritime search and rescue and responding to pollution at sea. Kochi, one of the 42 stations of the ICG, is of strategic importance to the security force guarding a 7,510 km coastline spread across nine states and four Union territories. The ICG comes under the navy during a war. But during peacetime, it is the nodal authority for coastal security in territorial waters — up to 12 nautical miles (1 nautical mile is 1.85 km). 

“We take several preventive and curative actions for coastal security every day,” says Deputy Inspector General Sanatan Jena, Commander, Coast Guard (Kerala and Mahe), at his office that overlooks the harbour. “Can you see that vessel?” he asks, pointing to a distant trawler at sea. “We can check its particulars anytime we want. We can do that for any such vessel.” 


Jena is referring to the automatic identification system (AIS) that picks up signals from transponders on boats and broadcasts the details to a centralised control room via satellites. This helps coast guard personnel identify vessels on a monitor. Transponder signals show up as dots on the screen. A click on the dot shows details of the vessel. 

AIS is mandatory for all vessels of 300 tonnes and above. It uses transponder signals from vessels and supplements marine radar. All seagoing vessels also have to be registered and fitted with a distress alert transmission system (DATS), developed by Indian Space Research Organisation, which has emergency buttons. In hostage situations or terror-related emergencies, any crew can alert the ICG by pushing the relevant button. The system has multiple buttons for various emergencies, like cyclone alert, hostage, fire, etc. Smaller boats under the purview of the state fisheries departments would soon come under the purview of the AIS or DATS. 

The alert and emergency systems were launched after November 26, 2008, when terrorists sneaked into India on small boats and went on a killing spree in Mumbai. This attack laid bare India’s maritime and coastal vulnerability. The coastal security architecture was overhauled to ensure better coordination between the navy, the coast guard and the marine police.

A lot seems to have changed in the past 10 years for the coast guard. In 2008, the ICG had 65 vessels and 45 aircraft. It now has 136 vessels and 62 aircraft. Under a long-term programme (2017-2032), ICG is likely to get 190 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2023. But the push to improve coastal security faces some challenges.


“Fishermen are often reluctant to carry these machines on board,” says Commandant Vijay Singh, executive officer for ICGKochi. Lack of awareness and space on vessels as well as the cost factor — though the devices are highly subsidised — are the reasons for their reluctance. That’s where the ICG ropes in the family.


Some 20 km from Cochin, a community interaction programme (CIP) of the ICG is underway for family members of fishermen in Chellanam, Ernakulam. “Kadali pokumpol vekam rakshapedan lifejacket aavashyaman. (Keep lifejackets on seagoing boats to save lives),” an ICG personnel tells the crowd gathered at a local church. “And why are you keeping this equipment at home? It is for your safety. If your family member has an emergency at sea, he has to press a button (on DATS) and we will get the information immediately. We are there to help you.”
Wives and children of fishermen listen with attention. The programme ends with ICG distributing school bags with leaflets that explain the use of DATS and other safety measures. Commandant Kumar asks a small girl if she has read the message on the bag: “Carry lifesaving equipment while fishing. Do remind your father about this,” he tells the nodding girl. The idea is that family members would force fishermen to carry the equipment while going out to sea. The ICG has distributed 1,778 free DATS to fishermen in all the coastal states. 

When not dealing with security threats or emergencies, the ICG prepares for threat scenarios and conducts rescue training through community interaction programmes and mock drills. Once such mock drill took place at the Mattancherry wharf in Kochi recently. Children of fishermen were taken on a ship one nautical mile into the sea. A Chetak chopper descended from the sky. A sailor on the ship threw a lifebuoy overboard — to give a reference point to the diver in the chopper. The diver, who was lowered on a rope, lifted the buoy back to the chopper. “The buoy denotes the man in distress in this mock drill,” says Deputy Commandant Hans Raj Bhagat. “Should such a situation arise, this is how we will save the fisherman. This instills a sense of security in children that the coast guard is there in times of distress.” 

Such community interaction programmes are aimed at bringing awareness among the fisher folk and strengthening coastal security. The benefits are mutual: these people are told how to be safe and they act as the “eyes and ears” of the ICG. More than 6,619 CIPs have been conducted since 2009. 

Another strategic step to enhance coastal surveillance has been the installation of a chain of radars. Called the coastal security network, sensors have been set up at 46 locations in phase-I. For gap-free surveillance, phase-II will involve setting up 38 radio stations by 2019. “This was conceptualised after the Kargil war but got expedited after 26/11,” says Jena. On completion of the project, the entire coastline of the country will get seamless electronic surveillance up to 25 nautical miles. The ICG also conducts coastal security exercises with the navy and the coastal police to assess the preparedness of all agencies in dealing with threats from sea. Since 2009, the ICJ has conducted 179 security exercises and 332 security operations. 

“Intelligence is important. Even if we get little information, our forces will act in no time,” says Jena. Aircraft and vessels undertake patrols round the clock. “Presence of units at sea is akin to a policeman on the beat — providing first response in an emergency situation,” the deputy inspector general says. 

The ICG’s preparedness was tested recently in Kerala — during the 2017 Ockhi cyclone and the August floods that shook the state. “Our teams were working day and night to rescue people. We were able to save 3,521 people during the floods,” says Jena. Commandant Singh, who was the officiating commanding officer during the cyclone, says the ICG rescued 441 people.

ICG’s search and rescue operations have saved 8,743 lives at sea since February 1, 1977, when the coastal force was set up, according to the defence ministry. For a force that started with a fleet of seven ships, the ICG has come a long way.

One major challenge staring at the ICG is manpower shortage. The 13,345-strong force has a staff shortage of 19%.

After 2008, the Cabinet Committee on Security has directed that “ICG be additionally designated as the authority responsible for coastal security in territorial waters, including areas to be patrolled by coastal police.”

Though the ICG is enhancing its capacity, installing AIS and DATS in smaller vessels and filling up vacancies will go a long way in making our coasts more secure.

“Information-Sharing Key for Coastal Security”

DIG Sanatan Jena, Commander, Coast Guard (Kerala and Mahe), tells Prerna Katiyar they are better prepared to deal with any threats. Edited excerpts:

How is the Coast Guard prepared to tackle threats?

We undertake preventive and curative actions daily. Sorties and vessels always patrol the coastline. Automatic integrated system is mandatory for all vessels, just like all motor vehicles are registered with the regional transport office. To check suspicious craft, we have ready duty ships. We have an efficient remote operating system — details of all vessels are visible on a monitor. And we can talk to them anytime. Everything is recorded. 46 radar systems are in place and 38 will come up soon.

What are the limits to which the ICG can go and investigate?

Up to 12 nautical miles (NM). But for economic offences, we can go up to 24 NM, which are called the contiguous waters. We have the power to act even beyond territorial waters. But we don’t have sufficient legal provision as far as piracy is concerned.

What are the areas where the ICG still needs support?

Assets are not a concern. Coordination and cooperation is the key. We do have intelligence sharing meeting every month. Systems are in place. This information sharing must go on. 

There seems to be laxity in confirming to colour coding of boats.

There is 100% compliance as far as mechanised boats are concerned. Traditional vessels will come under the purview of this coding shortly. 

What role did the ICG play during the Kerala floods and Ockhi cyclone?

During the floods, we were able to save 3,521 lives. Some 575 people were deployed for rescue operations. Medical assistance and food was provided in coordination with NGOs and the state government. WhatsApp played a major role in coordination. One dedicated team used to work in the night to repair all Gemini boats (small, inflated rubber boats) so that they were ready by morning. During Ockhi, smaller boats were affected the most. They did have not lifejackets or basic safety equipment. We rescued 441 people. 

What about joint exercises?

It is very much there. Other agencies are just a phone call away. We are definitely better prepared to deal with any kind of threat.