Ahmadabad: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) today commissioned a pollution control vessel ICGS Samudra Pavak at Porbandar to help deal with any eventuality created by the oil spill.
"Samudra Pavak is a projection of Indian Coast Guards will and commitment to serve and protect the maritime interest of the nation," ICG said in a statement.
The ship was commissioned at Porbandar by Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar.
"The basing of the pollution control vessel at Porbandar is an imperative necessitated by its proximity to the oil bearing regions and the fragile marine biodiversity," it said.
According to the statement, the Gulf of Kutch with its rich biodiversity, living resources, fisheries, coral reefs and mangrove vegetation, and swampy lands around the coast produces 71 per cent of the nations common salt, consequent high vulnerability of environment merits the positioning of the Pollution Response Vessel for prompt response to any oil spill contingencies.
The ship is equipped with the advanced pollution response and control equipment for mitigating oil spill in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.
It can also perform activities like oil containment, recovery, oil separation and dispersion of pollutants. The availability of two rigid sweeping arms enables containment of oil spill in motion as well, the statement said.
"The ship, on joining the Coast Guard fleet will be based at Porbandar. She will be deployed extensively for EEZ surveillance. The vessel will strengthen the security umbrella over 1,600 km long coast of Gujarat," it added.
Vice Admiral HCS Bisht, Director General Indian Coast Guard ADG SPS Basra and Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard) Rishi Agarwal were present during the event.