Vasco: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pratap, the first of two Pollution Control Vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and Director General of Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said the commissioning was linked to India’s larger maritime vision. He said India believes that marine resources are not the property of any one country but the shared heritage of humanity, and when heritage is shared, responsibility is also shared, which is why India has emerged as a responsible maritime power.
The Defence Minister said ensuring adequate participation of women is a key goal of the government and expressed satisfaction that the Coast Guard has given due importance to women’s empowerment. He said women officers have been appointed to key roles such as pilot, observer, air traffic controller and logistics officer, and are also being trained for hovercraft operations. He added that women are now actively deployed in frontline operations and are no longer confined to support roles.
Singh said Samudra Pratap is India’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel and the largest vessel in the Coast Guard fleet to date. He said more than 60 per cent indigenous material has been used in its construction, calling it a strong step towards a self-reliant India and a true reflection of the Make in India initiative.
He said achieving such a level of indigenous content in a complex platform demonstrates the maturity of India’s defence industrial ecosystem, while adding that the goal is to increase indigenous content to nearly 90 per cent in future projects.
The Defence Minister said India has developed significant defence manufacturing capabilities and can now handle complex technological challenges. He also highlighted marine pollution as an emerging global concern, warning that increasing pollution would affect fishermen’s livelihoods, coastal communities and future generations.
According to an Indian Coast Guard statement, the commissioning marks a major step forward in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in shipbuilding and maritime capability development.
Samudra Pratap, meaning Majesty of the Seas, reflects the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment to ensuring safe, secure and clean seas while safeguarding the nation’s maritime interests. The vessel represents a major advancement in indigenous ship design and construction and has been entirely conceived, designed and built in India with over 60 per cent indigenous content.
Measuring 114.5 metres in length and 16.5 metres in beam, the ship can achieve speeds exceeding 22 knots and is equipped with advanced automation and computerised control systems. Displacing approximately 4,200 tonnes, it is powered by two 7,500 kW diesel engines driving indigenously developed controllable pitch propellers and gearboxes, providing superior manoeuvrability and an endurance of 6,000 nautical miles.
The ship’s primary role is pollution response at sea, supported by advanced systems such as side-sweeping arms, floating booms, high-capacity skimmers, portable barges and a pollution control laboratory. It is also fitted with an external fire-fighting system and integrates advanced technologies including Dynamic Positioning, Integrated Bridge System, Integrated Platform Management System and Automated Power Management System.
Its armament includes a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns supported by modern fire-control systems.
Based at Kochi under the operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region West, through Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 4 covering Kerala and Mahe, the ship will safeguard India’s maritime interests.
Commanded by Deputy Inspector General Ashok Kumar Bhama, the vessel has a complement of 14 officers and 115 personnel, including the maiden appointment of two women officers who will perform duties alongside their male counterparts.
The induction of ICGS Samudra Pratap will significantly enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capabilities in pollution control, fire-fighting, maritime safety and environmental protection, while strengthening long-range surveillance and response across India’s maritime zones.
As the largest and most advanced pollution control vessel built in India, Samudra Pratap stands as a testament to the nation’s shipbuilding excellence and long-term vision for a cleaner, safer and self-reliant maritime future.
