The last of the five Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) project of Indian Coast Guard ‘Rani Rashmoni’ was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard, here on Monday. Commissioning the FPV, Additional Director General of Coast Guard VSR Murthy said FPVs are the workhorse of the ICG.
So far four such ships such as ICGS Rani Abbakka, ICGS Rani Avanti Bai, ICGS Rani Durgavati and ICGS Rani Gaidinliu, have been commissioned and are in active service at various locations on the eastern seaboard.
‘Rani Rashmoni’ was the last in the first phase of five FPVs, he said.
The FPVs are equipped with advanced sensors and state-of-the-art equipment and are designed to perform multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching, operations. The 51 mtr ship is propelled by three MTU 4000 series diesel engines of 2720 capacity each, coupled with Rolls Royce Kamewa jets.
The patrol vessel is fitted with an advanced Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), to carry out search and rescue operations, said Additional DG K.R. Nautiyal.
Other features include Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Machinery Control System, Infra-red Communication System and the armament includes one CRN 91 Naval Gun along with its fire control system. The FPV was indigenously built by Hindustan Shipyard. Complementing HSL and CMD of HSL Vice Admiral LVS Babu, Mr. Murthy said the shipyard has done remarkable job in overall weight reduction and achieving contractual speed of 34 knots.
ICGS ‘Rani Rashmoni’ will comprise four officers and 34 men and is commanded by Navdeep Safaya. The ship will be based in Visakhapatnam.
