(a) whether Indian Coast Guard detained armed security guards onboard a
vessel belonging to the US based company off Kanyakumari coast recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof and whether any probe has been ordered into
the incident; and
(c) if so, the outcome thereof and the steps taken by the Government to beef
up maritime security and to ensure smooth coordination between the Centre and
State Governments?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) to (c): ‘MV Seaman Guard Ohio’ was interdicted and escorted by Indian Coast
Guard to Tuticorin Port on 12th October, 2013 for investigation on the basis of
intelligence inputs that the vessel was likely to be involved in illegal transactions
of arms and ammunition. At Tuticorin, joint investigation was carried out on 12th &
13th October 2013 by all the concerned agencies. The Tamil Nadu Police has registered
a case against the crew of guards of the detained ship “Seaman Guard Ohio†under various
provisions of Arms Act, 1959, Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Motor Spirit and High
Speed Diesel Prevention of Malpractices in Supply and Distribution Order, 1990. The
case is under investigation with Tamil Nadu Police.
Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard vessels and aircraft are deployed for surveillance (24x7)
in the maritime zones of India to detect / deter anti national activities. Indian Coast Guard
conducts community interaction programmes with the fishermen to sensitize them on prevailing
security situations and develop them to be the “eyes and ears†for intelligence gathering.
Static radars have been installed along the Indian Coast lines for electronic surveillance
of vessel traffic. Coast Guard has been conducting regular exercises biannually on coastal
security in co-ordination with other Central and State Government agencies i.e. Marine Police,
Customs, CISF, Fisheries Department, Port Authorities, State Police and Indian Navy.
Strengthening of maritime security and coastal security is a multi-stakeholder activity and
necessary measures are implemented by various agencies. To ensure coordination, regular
meetings of the National Committee on Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS) are
held in which all stakeholders participate.