Six patrol boats costing $75 million each will be added to Coast Guard’s fleet as Trinidad and Tobago seeks to boost its coastal defense capability.
Prime Minister, Patrick Manning, outlined this upgrading of the nation’s coastal defenses at a post Cabinet press conference last week at Whitehall.
The boats, capable of speeds over 40 knots, will arrive in 18 months and will be used for inshore patrol. The Coast Guard also plans to acquire three offshore patrol vessels and four armed helicopters to upgrade its all round capability.
The security forces plan to set up a radar system with coverage from ten sites that will give the country 360-degree surveillance capability on vessels entering Trinidad and Tobago’s maritime boundaries, and will also acquire a mobile radar vessel.
The island has become vulnerable to illegal imports such as firearms and narcotics that are brought in mainly by sea. These improvements to the coastal defense system will reduce the instances of this contraband and the resulting crimes, the Prime Minister said.
