Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will commission offshore patrol vessel Vigraha of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in Chennai on Saturday, the defense ministry said.
“The ship will be based in Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and operate on the eastern seaboard under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East),” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The 98-meter OPV, with a complement of 11 officers and 110 sailors, has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen & Toubro Ship Building Limited.
It is fitted with advanced technology radars, navigation & communication equipment, sensors, and machinery capable of operating in tropical sea conditions, the statement added.
It further stated that the vessel is armed with a 40/60 Bofors gun and fitted with two 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun with a fire control system.
The ship is also equipped with an integrated bridge system, integrated platform management system, automated power management system, and high-power external fire-fighting system.
“The ship is also designed to carry one twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats for boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol,” it stated.
The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spills at sea, it mentioned.
The ICG, with this ship joining the fleet, will have 157 ships and 66 aircraft in its inventory, the statement said.
The commissioning ceremony will also be attended by Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Shri M K Stalin, Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane, Director General Indian Coast Guard Shri K Natarajan and other senior dignitaries of the central & state governments.
