In the background of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks the induction of the SPB into the Indian Navy is considered a major step to beef up security across the Indian seas.

After the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, both the Indian Navy and the Coast Guards were trading charges of security failure against each other. But the induction of the SPB can be said to be a positive step in the right direction of safeguarding the Indian coastal security.

After the Mumbai terror attacks, a high level ministerial committee was set up to give recommendations on beefing up security across the Indian coast. Accordingly, the committee recommended and granted permission to the Indian Navy to establish the SPB which would work on the lines of the Coast Guard. The SPB will be in the overall control of the Indian Navy.

Speaking to the media, Naval Commander Arvind Singh Rana said, to begin with, the SPB will be allocated 80 high speed interceptor crafts and will consist of 1,000 personnel from the navy. The high speed interceptor crafts are in production stage and will be inducted in the SPB by the end of 2011. Fifteen out of the 80 interceptor crafts would be inducted into the Western Naval Command headquarters in Mumbai. Shortly, 1,000 more navy personnel would also be commissioned in the SPB which would ensure that there is no shortage of officers in the force, Rana added.

The SPB would also maintain security at all major and minor ports in India and will carry out round the clock patrolling and will also be part of search and rescue operations in times of emergency.