The keel of a patrol ship, the first of a series of five water jet-propelled fast patrol vessels to be built for the Indian Coast Guard by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), was laid at the Raja Bagan dockyard here today.
The ship, expected to be delivered to the Coast Guard by mid-2018, will be constructed adopting integrated construction technology to ensure higher percentage of outfitting during launch, a Defence spokesperson said.
The keel laying ceremony, a major milestone in ship construction process, was undertaken by Mohanta Lal Mondal, the senior-most operative of Raja Bagan dockyard, in the presence of Rear Admiral V K Saxena, chairman and managing director of GRSE and commandant Atul Kumar of the Coast Guard.
The 48.9 m long fast patrol vessel is an improved version of inshore patrol vessel earlier built by GRSE for the Coast Guard, with an efficient hull form developed in-house after extensive model testing to achieve speed exceeding 34 knots, the spokesperson said.
"This fuel-efficient and powerful platform is well-suited for patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations," he said.
The ship will be fitted with state of the art main engines with advanced control systems and water jet units and an integrated bridge system having all communication and navigation systems.
It will also have improved habitation features with fully air-conditioned modular accommodation for 35 personnel, he said.
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