Coast Guard likely to have two hovercraft in Chennai
By IANSTuesday, August 17, 2010
CHENNAI - The Indian Coast Guard is planning to station two hovercraft in Chennai for security purposes, a senior officer said Tuesday.
“The Coast Guard is likely to induct 12 more hovercraft into service. We now have six. The hovercraft can move faster than speed boats in shallow waters and are better suited for security duties,” Commandant Venu Madhav told reporters on board an Air Cushion Vehicle (Hovercraft H-181) here.
The Coast Guard has positioned two hovercraft at the western borders, two at Haldia in West Bengal and two at Mandapam near Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
According to Madhav the two vessels have helped in preventing a large influx of Sri Lankan refugees to India as well as apprehending Sri Lankan fishing vessels that violate the maritime boundaries.
