Coast Guard also assists in scientific research and observation activities in the Indian maritime zones. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai is the chief coordinator of the national data buoy programme for monitoring ocean meteorological data. NIOT has employed a number of data buoys (deep sea/shallow water) in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea for this purpose. The data buoy programme is a part of India's commitment for participation in global ocean observing system (GOOS) and it is a high-tech system deployed in the Indian waters.

On May 25 last year, the DS-3 data buoy became adrift for some unknown reason and started drifting landwards to A&N Islands. The NIOT, Chennai which keeps tracking the buoys became aware of the situation but was helpless to save the buoy due to lack of a suitable vessel. Coast Guard Headquarters was alerted and it decided to deploy CGS Lakshmi Bai, an inshore patrol vessel from Port Blair on May 29 for the recovery mission. At the time of alerting, the southwest monsoon in the Bay of Bengal had already set in resulting in 6-8 feet high waves and heavy swells.

The ship sailed in the evening of May 29 and arrived in the probable area next day morning. Using the technique of vectors, the ship staff located the buoy bobbing up three cables away at 0800 hrs. Two divers had been embarked for buoy work. However, sending them down to work on the buoy in the sea would have been suicidal. Taking a calculated risk, the captain brought his ship alongside the data buoy to snatch it with a grapnel.

The buoy was kept close while the ship was stopped and started rolling 60-70 degrees. One diver volunteered to go under water and hack the chain link with the rope and sinker attached three metres below the buoy. Considering the risk to his life in unattended diving and the chance of diver's head being hit by the lower end of the data buoy weighing 950 kgs, the proposal was abandoned. However, another proposal to tow the data buoy to shallow waters with a two hundred metre tow line for further diving action was accepted. Accordingly, one diver jumped into the sea with two ring bolts (one kg each) to secure them on the buoy surface. The surface of the buoy was slippery and fitted with delicate equipment. The diver managed to secure a tow line on the buoy after two hours of struggle and the ship towed the buoy at a speed of 6 knots towards Port Blair.

The sea continued to be rough throughout the voyage and diving activity was impossible in the open sea. Taking a further risk, the buoy was towed inside Port Blair harbour close to the jetty on May 31. The NIOT team had flown from Chennai and the buoy was lifted to the jetty in its presence. Miraculously, the buoy was intact. A tremendous risk had been taken by the ship to save the buoy. The operation proved that the inshore patrol vessel, as a multi-role vessel, is capable of such tasks when the need arises.