Coast guard adds new vessel to fleet

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) will add yet another off shore patrol vessel to its fleet on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Union Defence Minister A K Antony will be present in Goa on January 21 to commission the indigenously designed ship at Goa Shipyard limited in the port town of Vasco.

The AOPV "SAMRAT" the biggest ever vessel designed in house and built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) provides an excellent platform for command, control and communication, says a press note released here by GSL.

"The vessel is fitted with most advanced equipment and state-of-the-art navigation and communication mode automated by an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), high power External Fire Fighting System and two indigenously built gun mounts," it adds.

The ship is designed to carry one twin-engine helicopter and five speedboats and is suitable for patrolling and policing maritime zones, embarkation and operation of ALH helicopter for long-range all time search and rescue and surveillance, pollution control, fisheries protection and external fire fighting.

These series of vessels will be a boon to fishermen and seafaring community as they enable the Coast Guard to respond to distress calls from fishermen at high seas facilitating rescue missions in an effective manner.