he Cochin Shipyard, on Wednesday, launched fast patrol vessel (FPV) ICGS Arinjay, the 15th in a series of 20 such ships it is building for the Coast Guard.
Keel was laid for the next vessel in the series on the same day.
While Arinjay was launched by Geeta, wife of CSL director of operations Captain R.S. Sundar, the keel of the 16thvessel was laid by Capt. Sundar.
Meant primarily for coastal patrol besides anti-poaching and anti-smuggling campaigns, the FPVs are high-speed ships with greater manoeuvrability and agility.
The contract for the construction of the FPVs was signed in 2010 and the yard has so far handed over 12 vessels. The Coast Guard took delivery of the latest, ICGS Ankit, on April 7. While the last vessel in the series is scheduled for delivery in 2017, the yard has been able to keep abreast of the stipulated timelines.
The FPVs are built under the dual classification requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping and the Indian Register of Shipping and are designed to attain speeds in excess of 33 knots required to carry out high-speed chase and interception.
Coast Guard officials said services of the vessels already inducted are being utilised for fisheries protection and monitoring; patrol within India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ); coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, search, and rescue operations and anti-piracy operations.
The water jet-propelled ships are also capable of providing communication link and escorting convoys during hostilities and war.
With a view to keeping the vessels light primarily to enhance their agility, special grade aluminium was used on the vessels’ super structure, which required the yard to develop special techniques to carry out high-quality welding of aluminium. SEDS, a Kochi-based company, designed the vessels in the series.
Besides building the FPVs, CSL is currently constructing the maiden indigenous aircraft carrier, named INS Vikrant, for the Navy.
