Coast Guard conducts boat race for fishermen

CHENNAI: As part of the Coast Guard Day celebrations, Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (East) on Tuesday organised a boat race for the fishing community off the Marina Beach. K A Jayapal, State Minister of Fisheries, was the chief guest for the event and flagged off the boat race near the Chennai Light House. Inspector General SP Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), was also present during the event.The fishermen from the Nochikuppam and Triplicane fishing hamlets participated in the boat race. There were three categories   in all— fibre re-inforced plastic catamaran with engine, wooden catamaran with engine and wooden catamaran without engine. A total of 30 boats took part in the race.According to Coast Guard officials, the aim of the event was to increase the level of interaction with the fishermen association in Chennai and to foster goodwill among the traditional fishermen of the fishing hamlets.The event also helped create an awareness among fishermen on their safety at sea.  The event highlighted the assistance provided to them while in distress by the Indian Coast Guard. It also sensitised them on aspects of coastal security.The event sought to promote better rapport between fishermen and the Coast Guard staff in the eastern region as well. A team led by Ravi Chandran won the first prize in the fibre re-inforced plastic catamaran with engine category; Arivalgan was the winner in the wooden catamaran with engine category; and Sekar Muthuvel won the first place in the wooden catamaran without engine category.