Panaji: The Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Sujit’ , the second in the series of 105 metres off shore patrol vessels, was commissioned at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on Tuesday, which will enhance the force’s operational capability to discharge multifarious maritime tasks.
The ship was commissioned at GSL at Vasco town by Raj Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production) in the presence of Director General of Indian Coast Guard, Krishnaswamy Natarajan and others.
The 105 metres OPV has been designed and built indigenously by GSL and is fitted with advanced technology, navigation and communication equipments, sensors and machinery, ICG spokesman said.
He added that the vessel is fitted with a 40/60 bofors gun and will be fitted with two 12.7 mm SRCG guns with FCS. The ship is also equipped with an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Power management System (PMS) and High power external fire fighting.
The ship is designed to carry one twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats including two inflatable boats for boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol, he said.
The spokesman said that the ship on joining the coast guard will be based at Goa. “Ship will be deployed extensively for EEZ surveillance and other duties as enshrined in the coast guard charter,” he said.
“Presently, Indian Coast Guard has a fleet of 155 ships and 62 aircrafts,” he said adding that more 35 ships are at various stage of construction at different Indian shipyards and 16 advance light helicopter are under production at M/s HAL, Bengaluru which will provide the added strength to the surveillance capabilities of ICG to deal with ever dynamic maritime challenges, he said.
