Coast Guard inducts patrol vessel 'ICGS Vijit' in its fleet

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) today inducted new generation offshore patrol vessel, ICGS Vijit in its fleet in a function held at port town of Vasco in Panaji.

The ship, which was commissioned by union minister of defense for state MM Pallam Raju, has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

Officials said the state-of-the-art offshore patrol vessel is 90 metre long has an Integrated Bridge System (IBS) equipped with a contemporary navigation and communication equipment and is also provided with a Platform Management System.

Propelled by two MTU engines, this vessel is capable of 26 knots and an endurance of 4500 nautical miles.

The vessel is also equipped with a 30 mm gun to counter undesirable intruders and is fitted out for helicopter operation.

It is the only vessel in the world with the large range of capabilities for pollution control, fire fighting, search and rescue, surveillance and patrol provided in a 90 meter vessel.

After the commissioning, Raju said coastal security apparatus for dealing with the infiltration through sea on our shores is already in place and being bolstered consistently with the continued and increased interaction amongst all the stakeholders in the maritime security.

Sureesh Mehta, high commissioner of India to New Zealand, was amongst the dignitaries present on the occasion.

ICGS 'Vijit' on joining the fleet will be deployed extensively for safety of the nation's maritime zones and offshore assets.