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Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to have an operational toll free number 1093 as ‘Coastal Security Help Line’.
Here is the departmental news dated November 25 from Tamil Nadu Police regarding launch of toll free number 1093.

The Coastal Security Group of the Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday launched a toll free number 1093 to handle distress calls originating from coastal areas. Launching the number, state director general of police, K.P. Jain, said that anybody in distress in coastal area can call 1093 to seek emergency help and also to provide information, based on which the police can take coordinated steps. The number will be active throughout day and night and will function from the control room at the state police head quarters. This is the first time in the country that a coastal security help line became operational. Stating that all the coastal village committees are functioning effectively the official said that the police had been receiving number of actionable intelligence from such committees. According to Mr K. Radhakrishnan, ADGP,L&O, said that 13 districts of Tamil Nadu that share 1076 km stretch of sea coast has 12 marine police stations, 12 out posts and 83 check posts. Six patrolling vessels are stationed at Chennai, Nagai, Tuticorin and Rameswaram. Mr A Subramanian chief general manager, BSNL was also present at the function.

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Here is an invitation dated November 24 to media from EUNAVFOR Somalia (Operation Atlanta) for a Media day at Taranto, Italy on December 01.

Invitation                                                                       Northwood, 24 November, 2009
Invitation for press to attend a Media day within European Union Naval Force – Operation Atalanta in Taranto (Italy) – Tue 01 December
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You are invited to attend a Media Day in Taranto (Italy) on Tuesday 01st December. The Media Day will take place in Taranto Naval Port on board of the Italian ship ITS ETNA. The ITS ETNA will soon become EU NAVFOR warship ETNA as she sails to the Gulf of Aden to take her place as Flagship of the Anti Piracy European Union Naval Force.

On Tuesday noon the Italian ship ITS ETNA under the Command of Commander CV Marco NOVELLA will sail from Taranto to join the EU Naval Force operating off the Somali coast in its Anti Piracy mission. It will replace as the new Flagship from the EU NAVFOR Dutch ship HNMS EVERTSEN.

Onboard the ship will be RAdm Giovanni GUMIERO who will take over the role of Force Commander in the middle of December in the Gulf of Aden.

Rear Admiral Thorsten Kaehler, the Deputy Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR based in the Headquarters in Northwood will say farewell to the latest member of the force to join the EU Anti Piracy mission.

Aim

The aim of the day is to give a limited number of media:

• Information about EU NAVFOR Somalia – Operation Atalanta and how the operation is conducted.
• Opportunities to talk to the EU NAVFOR Deputy Operational Commander, RAdm Thorsten Kaehler.
• Opportunities to talk to the EU NAVFOR designated Force Commander, RAdm Giovanni Gumiero.
• Opportunities to talk to the Commanding Officer of ITS ETNA, Commander Marco Novella.
• Opportunities to talk to a number of officers and crew.

Programme
The programme is scheduled to start at 0930 01 December and end at 1100.

• 0930 Media Arrival at Taranto Naval Base Main Gate.
• 1000 Start of Media event – Press conference (Short briefing – Questions & Answers).
• 1030 Coffee break.
• 1045 Interviews.
• 1100 End of Media event.

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HMS Astute, the biggest and most powerful stealth nuclear attack submarine, being built for the Royal Navy (RN) is ready to commence her first set of sea trials. Three more Astute class submarines Ambush, Artful and Audacious are under construction by BAE Systems shipyard at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria.  Astute is expected to be available for deployment by RN in 2010.

Some interesting features of Astute class submarines are:

• More complex than a Space Shuttle.
• Will never need refueling.
• Sonar suite has the processing power of 400 laptop computers.
• 97 metre long and the length is more than the length of 10 London buses.
• Has 11.2 metre beam that is more than the width of 4 London buses.
• To displace 7800 tonnes of sea water when fully loaded, equivalent to 65 blue whales or 975 unladen London buses.
• Modular construction followed.
• Has around 110 km of cabling and pipelines, that is equivalent to driving from Bristol to Oxford.
• Has more than three times the displacement of the last ‘conventionally’ powered submarine (HMS Upholder) built for the RN.
• Will be able to carry more torpedoes and tube launched missiles than any previous class of RN submarines – nuclear or conventionally powered.
• Can circumnavigate the world without surfacing and its dived endurance is limited only by the amount of food that can be carried and the endurance of the crew.
• Her sanitary fittings comprise five showers, five toilets, two urinals and eight hand basins for a crew of 98 (the Commanding Officer has his own hand basin).
• First RN submarine not to be fitted with optical periscopes.
• Has individual bunks for the whole crew and eleven extra bunks for ‘passengers’ and ‘sea riders’.
• Can produce its own oxygen from sea water to replenish the onboard atmosphere.
• Can purify the onboard atmosphere by removing and disposing of waste carbon dioxide, hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
• Can operate independently of the earth’s atmosphere for extended dived periods.
• Can compact and store onboard all the food waste and garbage arising from an extended patrol for eventual disposal on arrival back in harbour.
• Faster underwater than on the surface.
• Uses Sonar 2076 that has the world’s largest number of hydrophones of any sonar system in service today.
• On a 10 week patrol the crew would get through (on average) 18000 sausages and 4,200 Weetabix for breakfast.
• A team of 5 RN chefs (1x Petty Officer Caterer, 1x Leading Chef and 3x Chefs) provide 24 hour service to the crew of 98.

Here are some photographs from Royal Navy: HMS Astute during construction and leaving Barrow-in-Furness on her maiden voyage to start sea trials.

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The Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia’s is expected to float out the first of the three frigates of Project 11356 for the Indian Navy on November 27.
Some interesting features of Project 11356 frigates are:

• The frigates are the modified Krivak III class (Talwar class) guided missile frigates under construction at a cost of $1.6 billion contract signed in July, 2006.
• The frigates are named as: Teg (Saber), Tarkash (Quiver), Trikand (Bow).
• Russia has previously built three Talwar class frigates for India – INS Talwar, (Sword), INS Trishul (Trident), and INS Tabar (Axe).
• The first frigate after floating out is expected to commence sea trials in 2010 after completing remaining work.
• The second frigate is to be finished in 2011 and the third frigate is to be finished in 2012.
• All frigates will be armed with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
• Frigates will be also equipped with a 100-mm gun, a Shtil air defense system, two Kashtan air defense gun/missile systems, two twin 533-mm torpedo tubes, and an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

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INS Savitri of Indian Navy, is on deployment off Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from end November till early January 2010.

Some interesting features of INS Savitri (P 53) and her deployment are:

• Savitri is a Sukanya class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) commissioned on November 27, 1990 and built by Hindustan Shipyard  Limited.
• Savitri will operate in close coordination with the ships and aircraft of Seychelles Coast Guard (was formed in 1992) and the Mauritian National Coast Guard (was formed in July 1987).
• Savitri has a Chetak helicopter and Marine Commandos to carry out surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zone of Seychelles and Mauritius including anti piracy operations.

Here is a photograph from Indian Navy of INS Savitri (P 53).

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Sub Lieutenant Seema Rani Sharma and Sub Lieutenant Ambica Hooda are now the first women observers of Indian Navy’s Naval Aviation wing. After completing their final phase of training from Observer School in INS Garuda, they passed out on November 20 from Southern Naval Command, Kochi. The parade was reviewed by Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, Flag Officer Naval Aviation. The Short Service Commissioned Officers, will be appointed as Electronic Warfare Sensor Officers in Dornier maritime reconnaissance squadrons that is used for transportation and aerial surveillance.

View here a video clip: First Indian Navy women aviators take charge

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HMS Iron Duke, type 23 frigate from the Royal Navy and a warship from Canada are to patrol the coasts of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). It may be recalled that HMS Iron Duke, seized over five and a half tonnes of cocaine at sea from MV Cristal in September 2009.

Some interesting features of CHOGM 2009 are:

• The CHOGM, the supreme body of the Commonwealth is convened every two years to review global, political and economic developments and to conduct a strategic overview of the Commonwealth’s work in support of the interests of member countries.
• The CHOGM 2009 will be held in Port of Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, from November 27 to November 29, 2009.
• The theme of CHOGM 2009 is ‘Partnering for a more Equitable and Sustainable Future’.
• In 2007 summit in Kampala, Uganda, it was decided to host the next meeting at Trinidad and Tobago in 2009.
• All nations, regardless of size, have an equal say and vote at this meeting.
• All CHOGM decisions and initiatives are reached only by consensus.
• CHOGMs are distinct from other international meetings as in that heads of government meet in an informal retreat setting.

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BAE Systems launched second OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) ‘Scarborough’ on November 19 at Clyde for the Trinidad and Tobago Coastguard.

Some interesting features of the OPVs for Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are:

• In April 2007, BAE Systems received a £150 million contract to build, integrate, test and commission (up to sea trials) three OPVs for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.
• The construction of the OPVs was started in January 2008.
• The OPVs are
  • OPV1: Port of Spain (being constructed at Portsmouth)
  • OPV2: Scarborough (being constructed at Clyde)
  • OPV3: Santa Fe (being constructed at Clyde)
• The contract also includes providing training to the OPV crew and a five year in-service support package to OPVs.
• The operational sea training to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard crew is being provided by UK Ministry of Defence.

Here is the photograph from BAE Systems: Port of Spain, the first OPV.

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How unsafe is life for seafarers at sea ?

Here is the tragic story of the captain of MV Theresa VIII who lost his life.

• MV Theresa VIII, heading to Mombasa with a crew of 28 North Koreans was hijacked by Somali pirates on November 16 in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles North West of the Seychelles.
• The vessel is a Chemical Tanker of Virgin Islands owned and operated from Singapore.
• It is now reported that the captain of the vessel has died due to wounds. It is not clear whether the captain was wounded during the hijack or after the vessel was hijacked.

It may be recalled that the Russian captain Vladimir Kolobkov of MV Faina, Ukrainian cargo ship died on September 28, 2009 due to hypertension in the hands of pirates. The vessel was hijacked on September 25, 2008 by Somali pirates and later released on receiving ransom payment.

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METS (Marine Equipment Trade Show) incorporating the SuperYacht Pavilion 2009 opened on November 17 at Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands. This year’s (Design Award METS) DAME Award 2009 winners were announced by Bill Dixon, Chairman of the Jury of the DAME.

The 19th annual DAME Award competition received a total of 125 products from 108 companies. A total of 53 products were short listed for final selection. From these, Overall DAME Winner, together with 7 outright Category Winners, and two special certificates for ‘Most ECO Friendly’ and ‘Most Innovative’ product and 14 Special Mentions were selected.

The DAME Award 2009 winners are:

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Suez Canal (in Arabic: Qanat as-Suways) links the Mediterranean Sea at Port Said to the Red Sea at Suez, via the branches of the River Nile. The Canal was opened for navigation on November 17, 1869 and now completes 140 years of navigation.

Egypt nationalized the canal on July 26, 1956, with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) as a public and an independent authority of a juristic personality to manage, operate, use, maintain and improve the Suez Canal. The Canal was closed five times in the past and is operational since June 5, 1975. Admiral Ahmed Ali Fadel is the present Chairmen of SCA since January 22, 1996.

Here are some more interesting facts on Suez canal:

• Egypt was the first country to dig a man-made canal.
• The first who dug it was Senausert III, Pharaoh of Egypt in 1874 B.C.
• This canal had different names in the past and was abandoned due to silt, then reopened several times as:
  • Canal of Sity I: 1310 B.C.
  • Canal of Nkhaw: 610 B.C.
  • Canal of Darius I: 510 B.C.
  • Canal of Ptolemy II: 285 B.C.
  • Canal of The Romans: 117 A.C.
  • Canal of Amir El-Moemeneen: 640 A.D.
• Distance saving via the Canal:
  • from Jeddah to Piraeus: 9887 NM (Nautical Miles)
  • from Tokyo to Rotterdam: 3315 NM
  • from Ras Tanura to Rotterdam: 4733 NM
  • from Colombo to New York: 5473 NM
  • from Singapore to New York: 2373 NM
• Vessels with draughts up to 62 feet can presently navigate through the Canal and up to 72 feet in future.
• Maritime Training and Simulation Center of SCA trains the pilots to navigate in the Canal.

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the World Ocean Database 2009. The database is available at the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) operated by NOAA of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Some interesting features of World Ocean Database 2009 are:

• is an updated version of the 2005 edition.
  • OSD – Bottle, low resolution CTD, and plankton data: from 2,258,437 to 2,544,196.
  • CTD – High resolution CTD data: from 443,953 to 634,976.
  • MBT – Mechanical Bathythermograph data: from 2,421,935 to 2,427,277.
  • XBT – Expendable Bathythermograph data: from 1,930,399 to 2,109,400.
  • MRB – Moored Buoy data: from 445,371 to 566,540.
  • DRB – Drifting Buoy data: from 108,564 to 122,226.
  • PFL – Profiling Float data: from 168,988 to 520,816.
  • UOR – Undulating Oceanographic Recorder data: from 46,699 to 88,184.
  • APB – Autonomous Pinniped Bathythermograph data: from 75,665 to 89,558.
  • GLD – Glider data: from 338 to 5,857.
• is the largest collection of scientific information about the oceans with records dating as far back as 1800.
• database helps to study the global climate change and used for quality control of real-time oceanographic information.
• has approximately 9.1 million temperature profiles and 3.5 million salinity reports.
• also provides 29 categories of scientific information from the oceans, like oxygen levels and chemical tracers, information on gases and isotopes that is useful to trace the movement of ocean currents.
• compiled by scientists at the Ocean Climate Laboratory, part of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service.

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Navies of North Korea and South Korea clashed at their western sea border on November 10.

It is reported that as North Korean ship crossed the disputed western sea border, South Korean naval ship fired warning shots. North Korean ship fired back. During a two-minute exchange of fire, the North Korean ship caught fire and was heavily damaged. One North Korean officer was believed killed and three other sailors wounded. The South Korean ship was only lightly damaged and there were no South Korean causalities.

North Korea has demanded an apology from South Korea for the exchange of fire near the disputed Yellow Sea border calling it a grave armed provocation. In the past both the Navies had clashed in 1999 and 2002.

View some video clips:

• North Korea warns South that it will ‘pay’ for sea clash
• North and South Korean naval clash

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Indian Coast Guard Air Station (ICGAS) Chennai is operating from Meenambakkam airport. ICGAS Chennai was Commissioned in April 1991 to provide administrative and logistic support to the Dornier Squadron i.e. 744 SQN(CG) and thereafter to operate Helicopter Squadron 848 SQN (CG) from August 1993. It is spread over 26.26 acres of land adjoining the Officers Training Academy at St Thomas Mount.

Now to avoid congestion in future at Chennai airport, Coast Guard is planning to shift their air station to Ulundurpet, located 175 km from Chennai on the National Highway 45.

It is not clear whether Coast Guard has taken into consideration, the proposal by the government to set up a second airport as a green field airport at Sriperumbudur, off Chennai City in an area of 4,820.66 acres. When the proposed airport comes up at Sriperumbudur, is there going to be congestion in Meenambakkam for Coast Guard Air Station to operate from Meenambakkam ?

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The 11th Meeting of Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) was held on November 12. The meeting was presided over by the Union Minister for Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan at New Delhi and was attended by the representatives of Maritime States, Major Ports, Indian Ports Association, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, DG (Shipping) among others.

The following resolutions were adopted unanimously at the end of the meeting:

1. All the members of Maritime States would provide data on monthly basis on regular traffic handled by the Ports and on quarterly and annual basis on capacity enhancement achieved, to the Ministry of Shipping as a first step to an integrated planning for exim traffic across the seaboard.
2. Maritime States that had not yet restructured their port administrations – namely, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Orissa and West Bengal would endeavour to form their State Maritime Boards by March, 2010.
3. Safety norms for passenger boats and barges running/plying in coastal area, backwater and rivers would be reviewed, revised and strictly implemented in consultation with DG(Shipping), Ministry of Shipping.
4. Priority would be given by all Maritime States to install VTMS in their Ports.
5. A Committee comprising the Indian Navy, concerned Maritime State, the Members of State Maritime Boards, Coast Guard, State Police, Customs and the Ministry of Shipping be set up for sharing information on Traffic, Port and Ship security related issues. The Committee should hold meetings quarterly to review the security aspect of coastal States. Indian Navy would convene these meetings regularly.
6. All the Members of MSDC would notify the model rules on the basis of draft rule circulated by DG(Shipping) by 31.3.2010.
7. In the light of recommendation of the M.S. Swaminathan Committee Report submitted to M/o Environment & Forest, the Maritime States urged that existing projects approved as part of the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) and 11th Five Year Plan to create the necessary capacities to handle the projected international trade should be allowed to continue with the requirement that additional measures, if necessary for containment of damage to the coast line if any would need to be implemented.

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