Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 12: The Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Admiral D K Joshi (Retd.), formally inducted 10 newly procured rubberised inflatable boats into the Police Marine Force (PMF), A&N Police, at a ceremony held in the Conference Hall of Lok Niwas on Wednesday.
Senior officials attend induction
The ceremony was attended by senior administration and police officials, including Ms Chanchal Yadav, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration; Shri Ravindra Singh Yadav, IPS, Director General of Police, A&N Islands; and Shri Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, A&N Islands, along with other senior officers of the administration and police.
The administration said the enhancement forms part of ongoing measures to strengthen coastal security and maritime operational capabilities around the island chain.
Operational rationale and deployment
The Police Marine Force performs a range of duties including coastal surveillance and patrolling, search-and-rescue operations, anti-poaching missions, boarding of suspicious vessels and rapid response during maritime emergencies. The newly inducted crafts will be deployed at coastal police stations and remote Look Out Posts (LOPs) to augment these capabilities.
The statement accompanying the induction noted that the existing fleet of rubberised inflatable boats had been acquired under the Coastal Security Scheme (CSS) – Phase II and had seen extensive use. Prolonged deployment in harsh marine conditions had resulted in progressive ageing of the fleet, necessitating phased replacement to maintain operational readiness.
Support to remote and strategically important locations
The administration highlighted that the new boats will also facilitate the transportation of personnel, equipment and essential supplies to remote and strategically located areas. The release specifically named Narcondum and Tillaung Chaung among such locations, as well as other remote Look Out Posts, where shallow-water operability and rapid access are critical.
- Primary uses: coastal surveillance, patrolling, search-and-rescue, anti-poaching operations, boarding of suspicious vessels.
- Secondary uses: transportation of personnel, equipment and supplies to remote islands and LOPs.
- Procurement context: replacement and augmentation of an ageing fleet acquired under CSS–Phase II.
What the augmentation means for island security
Police Marine Force enhancements improve the islands' capacity to detect and respond to maritime incidents, including vessel intrusions, fishing violations and emergencies at sea. For an archipelago where many communities and outposts are accessible only by water, the availability of serviceable shallow-draft craft is a practical necessity for routine law enforcement as well as humanitarian response.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of boats inducted | 10 |
| Primary agency | Police Marine Force, A&N Police |
| Procurement scheme | Coastal Security Scheme (CSS) – Phase II |
| Noted target locations | Narcondum, Tillaung Chaung, remote Look Out Posts |
The administration underlined that the phased replacement of ageing boats is intended to sustain the PMF's operational readiness across the islands.
Context and implications
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands' dispersed geography places a premium on small, manoeuvrable craft capable of operating in shallow waters and servicing remote outposts. Rubberised inflatable boats are typically valued for their speed, portability and relative ease of maintenance, making them suitable for patrolling narrow channels, interdiction of small boats, and search-and-rescue tasks close to shore.
Officials present at the induction stressed the multi-purpose role of the PMF in coastal law enforcement and emergency response. Enhanced mobility and a replenished fleet are expected to shorten response times and improve logistical support to forward posts that operate with limited infrastructure.
No financial details of the procurement were disclosed at the ceremony. The administration indicated the induction is an important step towards strengthening maritime law enforcement and the overall maritime security architecture of the islands.
Further operational roll-out plans and the specific distribution of the new craft across stations were not provided at the function.
