A memorandum of understanding between the Indian Coast Guard and Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (MSA) for establishing a 'hotline' between the two agencies has nearly been worked out and is expected  to be finalised soon.

"Two to three rounds of talks have been held between the two agencies on drawing up a document which is acceptable to both sides", Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Suresh Mehta told a news conference in Chennai  today.

The idea of a hotline had been first mooted by the Coast Guard and it was also included in former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's nine point programme for strengthening ties between New Delhi and Islamabad, he said, adding that  great strides had been made towards establishing hotline since then.

A meeting between the two agencies was held last week, he said.

Referring to a suggestion for putting up bouys to demarcate the coastal boundries of India and Sri Lanka in order to stop Indian fishermen unknowingly entering the Island's waters, Vice Admiral Mehta was of the view that it may not be viable.

"I don't think it is viable. It involves much expenditure", he said adding that on the other hand quite inexpensive equipment for indicating the position of fishing trawlers was available. Pondicherry was providing 50 per cent subsidy on the equipment to its fishermen, he pointed out.

Replying to a question, Vice Admiral Mehta said the Coast Guard  was keeping a close watch and checking the antecedents of those entering the country to ensure that refugees, fleeing Sri Lanka due to the situation there, did not slip into the country in the garb of Indian fishermen.

The Navy, Coast Guard  and Fisheries department were all operating from a large number of detachments along the country's coastline with Sri Lanka, he said.

On the issue of about five ships sinking each year in the bay of Bengal during the monsoons, he said the Coast Guard had suggested that the centre come out with a policy prohibiting  Indian shipping companies from chartering ships and bringing ships which were more than 25 years old into Indian waters. 

Such a restriction had been placed on foreign companies  from bringing old ships to Indian Ports.  Last year the lives of about 57 crewmen from ships that were in problem were saved while two lives were lost, he said.

He disclosed that a British ship, the British Pride  had  saved the lives of 18 crew members of a Singapore registered ship which had sunk about 700 kms South of Sri Lanka coast.  A message was flashed to ships in the vicinity and  British ship responded. Six crewmen could not be saved, he said.

The ill fated vessel was on its way from an African  port to Singapore.

Referring to tightening up of security at ports, he said in keeping with an international order, which came into effect on July 1, a security mechanism had been put into place to ensure that illegal arms and items did not enter the country.