After the 26/11 attacks, both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guards pointed fingers at each other on the security lapse. But with the SPB in force, the Navy has been given the additional task of patrolling the coast with its own taskforce.

The group came into being following the recommendations of a high level ministerial committee to beef up security across the Indian coastal territory. The committee recommended and granted permission to the Indian Navy to establish the SPB that would work on the lines of the Indian Coast Guard but would be in the overall control and command of the Indian Navy.

Naval Commander Arvin Singh Rana said that to begin with the SPB will be allocated 80 high-speed interceptor crafts and will consist of 1,000 personnel from the navy.

The SPB would function under four different divisions. The interceptor crafts are in production stage and would be inducted into the SPB for operational purposes by end of 2011. Fifteen of the 80 interceptor crafts would be inducted into the Western Naval Command headquarters in Mumbai.

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