Coast Guard bids adieu to vessel

As dusk fell, in a quiet breezy corner of the Chennai Port, the 21-year-old Bhikhaji Cama, a ship that saved 85 lives during eight search and rescue operations, was decommissioned following an emotional tribute. The vessel also evacuated 137 personnel during a tsunami relief mission.

The Coast Guard ship, named after the freedom fighter, sailed for nearly 2,46,937 nautical miles over 2,586 days, facing calm and rough seas with equal poise, recollected its last Commanding Officer Varun Upadhya.

Major operations

“She [the ship was part of the project] apprehended 10 foreign fishing vessels and 131 crew responsible for poaching in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone. She also touched international ports, including Singapore, Myanmar and Manila,” he said.

Rajan Bargotra, Inspector General, Commander Coast Guard Region (East), spoke of the measures that the Coast Guard had taken in the last few years to strengthen maritime security.

“From 49 ships in 1997 when Bhikhaiji Cama was commissioned, it has grown to 135 vessels today,” he added.

With a parade of the guard of honour and the haul down of the Ensign for the last time, the Coast Guard fraternity bid good-bye to Bhikhaiji Cama.