The Indian Coast Guard commissioned its latest acquisition, an interceptor vessel named C-441, at a ceremony held at the Vizhinjam harbour near here on Wednesday.
Chief Secretary Tom Jose commissioned the vessel into service.
Maritime activities
Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the Indian Coast Guard for undertaking maritime activities like search and rescue, rendering assistance to mariners and fisherfolk in distress, medical evacuation and marine environment protection, strict enforcement of marine laws, often braving bad seas, heavy winds and rains.
Role lauded
He also lauded he Coast Guard for its role during cyclone Ockhi and the floods last August.
Inspector General Vijay D. Chafekar, Commander Coast Guard Region (West) Mumbai, DIG Sanathan Jana, Commander Coast Guard District No.4 (Kerala and Mahe), Commandant Varghese and Dy.Comdt George Baby of Coast Guard Station, Vizhinjam, and senior officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, BSF, Police, Airport Authority, Central and State senior officials were present.
ICGS C-441 is the seventh interceptor vessel amongst the series designed and built indigenously by L & T Ltd., Surat.
The vessel is commanded by Assistant Commandant Amit K. Choudhary, with a crew of 13 personnel.
Make of the vessel
The 27.8-metre-long vessel displaces 106 tonnes and has a maximum speed of 45 knots (83 km/hr).
It is equipped with twin diesel engines and water jet propulsion.
It also has the capability to undertake multifarious tasks such as close coast surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to boats and crafts in distress at sea.
Good fit
The ship is fitted with state-of-the art communication, navigational equipment and with light, medium and heavy automatic machine gun onboard as main armament.
