Two Coast Guard Ships -- Apoorva and C-421 -- were commissioned into the service here today by Vice Admiral SPS Cheema, Flag Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Additional Director General SPS Basra, Coast Guard Commander, Western Seaboard and Inspector General K R Natarajan, COMCG (W).
Senior officials of the Armed Forces, Mumbai Port Trust, DG Shipping, CISF and State Intelligence Bureau also attended the commissioning ceremony, an official release said.
ICGS Apoorva and C-421 have been designed and built by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited and L&T Limited, Surat, respectively.
ICGS Apoorva, 14th in the series of 20, is a 50-meter long Fast Patrol Vessel which displaces 317 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots. The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) Dinesh Dogra with a complement of 5 officers and 34 ranks.
It is well-equipped to undertake close-coast surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and medical evacuation missions. Commissioned over one month ahead of the schedule, it will be based in Goa.
ICGS C-421 is an interceptor boat with 27.8 meter length and displaces 106 tonnes. The ship is commanded by Deputy Commandant Rohit Kulkarni with a complement of one officer and 13 ranks. It is a water jet propelled vessel, 27th in the series of IBs constructed by L & T Limited and can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots.
The ship is being commissioned nearly two years ahead of schedule. Fitted with medium range armaments, the ship is designed for close coast and shallow water operations. The vessel is based at Androth (L&M Islands).
Vice Admiral Cheema in his speech termed the Fast Patrol Vessels as the workhorses of the Indian Coast Guard.
He also lauded the support of Government of India for the Coast Guard's plan to increase force levels substantially to face the emerging security challenges.
