A C-425 interceptor ship. Telegraph picture

Paradip, April 27: The Paradip wing of the Indian Coast Guard today stationed a C-425 ship for beefing up coastal security patrolling the shallow seawater territory.

Another Coast Guard ship, Vajra, was also stationed here recently to intensify security vigil along the Odisha and Bengal coastline.

“Indian Coast Guard Ship C-425, the third of the series of interceptor boats, was commissioned here today by Odisha chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik. The Paradip Coast Guard station will be equipped with more such interceptor vessels in near future,” said Coast Guard (northeast) inspector general commander K.C. Pandey.

The 30-metre interceptor vessel with a displacement capacity of 90 tonne can achieve the maximum speed of 45 knots.

The vessel is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment and medium-range armament. It is especially designed for high-speed interception, close-coast patrol, low-intensity maritime operation, search-and-rescue operations and maritime surveillance, said a senior Coast Guard official.

The Coast Guard stations in Odisha are all waiting for an infrastructure overhaul for better maritime surveillance in the exclusive economic zone along the coast.

Recent activation of an air enclave in Bhubaneswar and the permanent stationing of Vajra in Paradip were parts of the overhaul.

Activation of the air enclave (aircraft station) in Bhubaneswar is a part of the ongoing expansion plan of the Coast Guard to strengthen and modernise its infrastructure to support operations, which included the recent commissioning of Coast Guard station in Gopalpur.

Two more interceptor crafts will join the fleet in near future with an objective to enhance operational capability and effective presence in the coastal areas of Bengal and Odisha.

The infrastructure refurbishment signifies the strategic importance of the Odisha coast, said Pandey.

Infrastructure revamp projects, such as construction of a helipad, a warehouse and a radar observation centre in Paradip have been approved with accordance of financial sanction by the Union government as a part of its coastal security plan.

The projects will start as soon as the state government hands over the required land, said another source in the Coast Guard.