Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Oct 6: Gliding through the sea maintaining cruising speed around 38-40 knots, in a voyage kicked off from Mumbai, the second hovercraft, H-198 made its way to Panambur beach on Monday October 6, bolstering the security of the Indian Coast Guard in the state.
After a fortnight of arrival of first hovercraft H-196, another amphibious vehicle of the similar clan landed in Mangalore increasing patrolling capabilities across the state's coast. "The vehicle will patrol in places where ships do not go" said Rajmani Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard of Karnataka.
The fastest air cushion vehicle that travels in a maximum speed up to 52 knots was built in United Kingdom. The hovercraft accommodates 11 crew members and two officers. However the team is lead by A Banarjee, Commandant of the hovercraft, who in a second attempt brought the vehicle to hault at Panambur beach.
The hovercraft will be stationed permanently in the Karnataka coast and will keep a watch on long stretch of Karnataka coast line, said Banarjee. This was the first time he has been given the task of Commandant. The crew are skilled and were specially undergone training in London. He further stated that the vehicle was equipped to perform rescue operations, surveillance, and search operations.
"We sailed from Mumbai, and moved through Ratnagiri, Karvar before entering Panambur." He pointed that vehicle has heavy machine guns, satellite phone, navigation and radar equipments.
The hovercraft, however today encountered uncomfortable weather condition as the visibility was poor causing the delay in arrival, he told. This new fleet is the second induction by the Indian Coast Guard, which arrived half an hour late against scheduled time at 11 am.
The two giant vehicles will be commissioned in few weeks from today and will be ready for functioning. Hovercrafts will be useful to patrol over shallow seas, soggy land, and other places, which cannot be accessed by conventional boats, conveyed Rajmani Sharma.