Indian Coast Guard Ship shares experiences of maritime operations

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Paheredar has arrived at Hamad Port to share experiences of maritime operations including pollution control, combating maritime terrorism, coastal security and maritime surveillance with Qatar. 
“As part of our growing maritime cooperation, Indian Coast Guard Ships have used the opportunities of their visits to Qatar to engage in mutually beneficial professional interactions for enhancing cooperation,” said Ambassador of India to Qatar, H E P. Kumaran, while speaking at a reception on board the ship held yesterday.
The event, hosted by the Commanding Officer of Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar, DIG Anwar Khan, and his team was attended by Qatari officials, embassy staff, leaders and members of Indian expatriate community.
H E the Ambassador said that the visit of ICGS Samudra Paheredar to Doha is testimony to the time tested friendship between India and Qatar. “I would like to once again convey my sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the esteemed Qatar Armed Forces and the Qatar Coasts and Border Security Department for their excellent support and cooperation.” 
“In the framework of the deep-rooted friendly ties and the growing cooperation between India and the State of Qatar, ICGS Samudra Paheredar is visiting Qatar in conjunction with the celebrations of India’s 71st Republic Day, which falls on January 26,” said the Ambassador.
He said that the visit of ICGS Samudra Paheredar is the third visit by an Indian Coast Guard Ship to Qatar in the last three years; ICGS Samudra Pavak and ICGS Samarth had visited Qatar in January and November 2017. 
Indian Navy and Coast Guard Ships have been visiting Qatar frequently in recent years. INS Trikand visited Qatar in November last year and participated in the inaugural edition of ‘Za’eer Al-Bahr’ bilateral exercise between the Indian Navy and Qatar Amiri Naval Forces. 
“I would like place on record that the Embassy of India appreciates the support and cooperation of the Government of the State of Qatar, the Directorate of International Military Cooperation GHQ, Qatar Emiri Naval Forces and the Qatar Coasts and Border Security Department, in making the visit of ICGS Samudra Paheredar successful and mutually beneficial,” said the Ambassador. 
The Indian Coast Guard, in cooperation with the Indian Navy, has been undertaking surveillance of a long coast line, extending over 7500 kms and a wide Exclusive Economic Zone of about 2.37 million square kilometers. 
A notable feature of the Indian Coast Guard’s force structure is the fact that an overwhelming majority of its ships are designed and built in India. 
ICGS Samudra Paheredar has 20 officers and 100 other personnel under the Command of Deputy Inspector General Anwar Khan, Tatraksha Medal, and is based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (East).