Coast Guard chief commissions new vessel Abhinav

Kochi: Coast Guard ship Abhinav, the third in the series of 20 Fast Patrol vessels, designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, was today commissioned in Kochi. Director General of Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal commissioned the vessel.[caption id=“attachment_1341863” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Director General, Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal on the occasion of commissioning of the Indian Coast Guard Ship Abhinav, at Kochi on Wednesday. Image courtesy PIB [/caption] Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Thapliyal termed the fast patrol vessels as the work horses of Coast Guard and the government’s support in its plan to increase force levels substantially to face the emerging security challenges in the maritime domain. Indian Coast Guard will be a 150 ship-boat and 100 aircraft maritime force in next five years. In addition to these operational assets, a coastal surveillance network is being established with 46 stations to ensure real time coastal surveillance, he said. The 50 metre indigenous FPV displaces 290 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed of 13 knots, equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment. The vessel makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close-coast missions such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and medical evacuation. The special features of the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System, Integrated Machinery Control System and an Integrated Gun Mount with Indigenous Fire Control System. It will be based at Kochi under the administrative and operational control of the commander, CG region (West). The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) Raman Kumar and has complement of five officers and 34 other ranks. Those present on the occasion were Inspector General SPS Basra, Commander Coast Guard region (WEST) and other senior dignitaries of the Central and state governments. PTI