Being at the head of an organization that has the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of seafarers and the protection of marine wealth is a position that requires tact, dexterity and sound human, and other resources management principles. The incumbent needs to have a wide variety of knowledge, experience and mastery in the field.
Captain Saurabh Thakur is such a living example. He has demonstrated how a human and humble approach to management can make people go the extra mile. One of his virtues is humility, a virtue of human character. He has the profound belief that a humble man is liked and respected by all. The quality of being humble is not for everyone. But Captain Thakur has succeeded in availing of such quality in the exercise of his duty as Commandant of the National Coast Guard from January 2015 to August 2017.
In a busy world of cut-throat competition where egoism and power play down all other concerns, humility seems a vain notion. A virtue that denies one the pleasures of self-exultation, humility can serve as a means towards cultivation of inner peace and tranquility.
In the context of the 31st Anniversary celebrations of the National Coast Guard, This Week News probes into the salient moments of one of the greatest Commandants Mauritius ever had.
Born in Jabalpur, India on 24 August 1975, married to Divya Thakur, an Arts graduate, Saurabh Thakur is father to a son, Karan and a daughter, Kavya. They all live in New Delhi. He has spent most of his time at sea as Surface Warfare officer and specialist in gunnery and Missiles. Commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 January 1997, he is an alumnus and graduate of the Indian Naval Academy of Goa and the Defense Services Staff College of Wellington.
His afloat appointments include two years tenure as Navigation and Communication Officer onboard a missile boat (INS Prahar), and five years as specialist Gunnery Officer onboard two frontline destroyers of the Indian Navy (INS Ranvijay and Mumbai). He has also commanded a mine sweeping vessel (INS Allepey) in Mumbai. His last tenure at sea was as Executive Officer of a destroyer (INS Delhi)
Ashore he has been instructor of cadets at National Defense Academy, Khadakswata, a premier Tri-services training institute in India. He was also the Deputy Director (Gunnery) at the Indian Naval Tactical Evaluation Group (INTEG) and has served two tenures at Naval Headquarters, as Joint Directorate of Staffs Requirements, and as Director in the Directorate of Naval Plans.
The Flag Officers Commanding-in-Chief has commended him on three occasions for his contributions during an anti-piracy operation in 1999, relief operations in India during Tsunami in 2004-2005 and for his self-less devotion to duty in 2008.
The motto of the National Coast Guard “Inhoc Signo Vinces” (Under this sign, you conquer) fits very well in the captain’s commitment and willingness to motivate his staff during athletic competition aboard. He has conquered the hearts of all his fellow officers.
A keen sportsman and a daring yachtsman, Captain Saurabh has won laurels in badminton, squash and swimming during his days as a trainee/junior officer. Lately, he has taken a keen liking for golf.
It is under his direction that Mauritius commissioned many assets in the National Coast Guard, namely the 
Fast Interceptor Boats, deployed for patrolling, surveillance, force protection, interception of high speed vessels, search and rescue and special force operations; CGS Victory, an Indian built Water Jet Fast Patrol Craft; CGS Valiant which is the seventh ship of the No 1 Patrol Vessel Squadron of the NCG of Mauritius and equipped with state-of-the art machineries and equipment capable of attaining a maximum speed of 35 Knots and can provide certain outer island support as well. Some of these vital assets are highlighted hereunder.
The Coast Guards Ship, Barracuda, a new ship-patrol for Mauritius, built in the Indian shipyards, was commissioned in 2016. This boat, equipped with oil spill response gears for any marine oil spill incident, can travel 5,000 nautical miles at a speed of 20 knots. Featuring high technology and sophisticated systems of electronic navigational equipment, the patrol boat was deployed in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for different surveillance missions and fight against piracy, illegal fishing and drug trafficking.
The Dornier Aircraft’s mission is to protect our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and ward off any threat to the invaluable source of the country’s wealth. Equipped with sensors such as the sophisticated Maritime Patrol Radar, Automatic Identification System and Forward Looking Infrared Camera, this aircraft is vital in the prevention of piracy, drug smuggling, and illegal fishing within the region under the jurisdiction of Mauritius.
Last but not least, the Trident Project, which is the new headquarters of the National Coast Guard at Les Salines, aims at facilitating the dry docking and repair of NCG ships.
All major developments in the NCG bear the footprints of the Captain. Thanks to his unique methodology, approach, human relation and administrative skills, and his humility and kindness, he has been instrumental in the effective training of his officers, and in shaping the destiny of the unit.
At the end of his assignment in August 2017, Captain Saurabh Thakur handed over the duties of Commandant National Coast Guard to Captain Manu, a Surface Warfare Officer specialised in Navigation and Operations.
The National Coast Guard
Previously, a marine wing of the police force, the National Coast Guard is now a specialized branch of the Mauritius Police Force falling under the Commissioner of police.
The first naval ship was acquired in1974 with the main role of search and rescue and coastal patrol. But the growing trend in maritime activities around Mauritius called for better preparedness in the control of smuggling and enforcement of fishing protection.
The NCG was thus set up on 24 July 1987 as a full-fledged specialized unit of the Mauritius Police Force, with the onerous responsibility of, not only safeguarding the enormous marine wealth, but also rendering assistance to all seafarers of the nation.
After decades of enormous challenges and experiences, the National Coast Guard has today become a well-structured organization deploying multiple logistic support, equipment and human resources. It is well geared towards the future with major projects in the pipeline for the safety, security and welfare of people at sea and inland.