Indian Coast Guard Porbandar Jetty Gives Gujarat New Edge
Indian Coast Guard Expands Porbandar Jetty to Strengthen Security Along Gujarat Coast
The Indian Coast Guard has expanded its jetty facility at Porbandar, a move expected to improve the force’s ability to patrol India’s western waters and respond more quickly to emergencies in the Arabian Sea.
Inspector General T Sashi Kumar, TM, Commander of Coast Guard Region (North-West), inaugurated the extended jetty on 2 July 2026. The project increases the length of the facility from 175 metres to 275 metres, creating space for more Coast Guard vessels to berth at the same time and reducing delays in maintenance, fuelling and logistics support.
Porbandar is one of the Indian Coast Guard’s most important operational centres on the western coast. The city sits close to busy international shipping routes and lies near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Pakistan. The location has long played a key role in maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, anti-smuggling patrols and assistance to fishermen operating in the Arabian Sea.
Officials said the additional berth space will allow more ships to remain ready for deployment, particularly during periods of increased operational activity or adverse weather conditions. Faster turnaround times for vessels returning from patrol are also expected to improve the Coast Guard’s ability to maintain a sustained presence at sea.
The Indian Coast Guard, established under the Coast Guard Act of 1978 and functioning under the Ministry of Defence, is responsible for protecting India’s maritime interests, enforcing maritime laws, assisting fishermen and mariners in distress, combating smuggling and pollution, and supporting coastal security operations alongside other agencies. The force has expanded steadily over recent years as India’s maritime trade and offshore infrastructure have grown in size and importance.
The waters off Gujarat are among the busiest and most strategically important in the country. The state has India’s longest coastline at more than 1,600 kilometres and hosts several major ports, energy terminals and industrial facilities. The region also handles a large volume of commercial shipping traffic and fishing activity, increasing the need for regular surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
Porbandar itself has become an important hub for Coast Guard operations in the North-West region. The station supports missions covering India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), offshore assets and areas close to the IMBL. Maritime Rescue Sub Centre facilities located in the city coordinate responses to distress calls from vessels and fishermen operating in nearby waters.
The expanded infrastructure is expected to support operations linked to maritime safety, coastal security and environmental protection. It will also assist with emergency response missions involving cyclones, maritime accidents and pollution incidents.
The project was completed with the support of the Gujarat Maritime Board, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Military Engineer Services. Officials involved with the project said the collaboration combined engineering, maritime and operational expertise to deliver the upgraded facility.
The Gujarat Maritime Board manages many of the state’s non-major ports and has been involved in several coastal infrastructure projects aimed at improving port operations and maritime connectivity across the state. Porbandar Port itself continues to play an important role in local trade and fishing activity along the Saurashtra coast.
The expansion comes at a time when India’s western maritime region is seeing growing security demands. Recent operations near the Gujarat coast have included anti-smuggling missions and surveillance activities targeting illegal movement across sea routes. Earlier this year, a joint operation involving the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and the Indian Coast Guard intercepted an Iranian boat near the IMBL off Porbandar and seized more than 200 kilograms of suspected narcotic material.
The Coast Guard has also strengthened its presence in the region by adding newer vessels to its fleet. In April 2026, the offshore patrol vessel ICGS Shaurya was deployed at Porbandar to improve monitoring and response capabilities in the North Arabian Sea. The vessel supports surveillance, search and rescue operations and maritime law enforcement duties.
During his visit to Gujarat, Inspector General T Sashi Kumar also reviewed progress on the refit of Coast Guard vessels undergoing maintenance work at M/s SDHIL in Pipavav.
The regional commander inspected ICGS Samudra Pavak and ICGS Aryaman during a walk-through of the vessels and later held discussions with Coast Guard officers and representatives involved in the refit programme.
According to officials, the review focused on challenges affecting completion schedules and measures needed to avoid delays in returning the vessels to active service. Timely refits are considered important for maintaining operational availability, particularly in areas with heavy maritime traffic and frequent security deployments.
The North-West Region of the Indian Coast Guard, headquartered in Gandhinagar and led by Inspector General T Sashi Kumar, oversees operations along Gujarat and neighbouring maritime areas. The region regularly coordinates with the Indian Navy, state marine police, customs authorities and fisheries departments on coastal security and maritime safety missions.
With additional berth space now available at Porbandar and maintenance work continuing on operational vessels, the Coast Guard is expected to increase its ability to sustain patrols and respond to incidents across one of India’s most sensitive maritime regions.
