In a bid to boost the coastal security and enhance safe navigation along the country’s vast coastline of 7,500 km, the Union government on Friday launched the `132-crore National Automatic Identification System (AIS) Network.
Speaking after inaugurating the network here, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan said the network connects 74 AIS sensors installed on light houses along the entire coastline with six regional centres, two coastal centres and one national data centre. There will also be monitoring stations at navy and coast guard centres.
“It will be able to track vessels up to a distance of 50 km from the coast and is intended to help users like director general shipping, ports, navy and coastguard in tracking, surveillance, search, rescue and management of aids to navigation.
“About two lakh fishing vessels are required to be equipped with the transponders. The Shipping Ministry has approved a pilot project for Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships to provide transponders to 1,000 fishing vessels off the coast of Gujarat and Maharashtra at a cost of `6 crore,” the minister said.
“In the next phase it will be extended to other coastal states including Tamil Nadu,” he added. He also handed over the approval to establish a lighthouse at Vembar in Tuticorin district, for which initial work is being carried out. Director General of lighthouses Captain A M Surej also spoke on the occasion.
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