'Marina', a floating berthing jetty for the Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs), was inaugurated at the Naval Base here today.
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba inaugurated 'Marina' which would provide the much required berthing facility to the FICs operating from Kochi harbour, a Navy release said.
The FICs are not only involved in security of Naval assets but also deployed for coastal security along the Kerala coast.
The FICs have also been associated with various search and rescue missions along the coast.
The 'Marina' commissioned today is 48-metre long and can berth 10 FICs together. The entire platform is a floating jetty on the water with heavy sinkers and buoys attached to it.
Marina was conceived in 2011 and had been built by M/s West Coast Marine Yacht Services Pvt Ltd based at Navi Mumbai.
Being a floating platform, the Marina can be extended to accommodate more FICs and be shifted on water, the release said.
In his inaugural address, Vice Admiral Lanba highlighted the efforts put in by Sagar Prahari Bal personnel who man these FICs and appreciated the role played by them in coastal security.
The event was witnessed by senior officers from Southern Naval Command, representatives from the firm and naval officer in Charge (Kerala), the release said.
