On October 6, 2020, The Seventh Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) ‘Vigraha’ of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was launched at Kattupalli Port, Chennai. The vessel has been built by Larsen & Toubro (L & T).
i.This is the first time that a private sector shipyard has designed & constructed an offshore patrol vessel class ship.
ii.‘Vigraha’ is the last in the series of Seven OPVs contracted to Larsen & Toubro by the Defence Ministry in 2015.
Key Points:
i.Vigraha would be manned by 102 crew members, which includes 14 officers and 88 subordinate officers.
ii.It has a life span of more than 25 years.
iii.It will be inducted into ICG after the completion of trials and testing by March 2021.
iv.OPV are long range surface ships, which are capable of operation in maritime zones of the country, island territories. They are capable of Helicopter operations.
v.The roles of the OPV include coastal and offshore patrol, policing maritime zones of the country, surveillance, anti-piracy operations, and anti-smuggling operations in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Specifications:
i.Vigraha is 98 metres long, 15 metres wide and has 3.6 metre draught. It has a displacement of 2140 Tonnes and a range of 5, 000 nautical miles.
ii.It can attain a speed of 26 Knots and would be fitted with a 30 mm 2A42 gun and two 12.7 mm guns.
iii.It is also equipped with twin engine helicopters to enhance its operational, surveillance, search and rescue capability.
Vessels built by Larsen and Toubro:
L & T has previously designed and built 6 ICGS (Indian Coast Guard Ship)
ICGS ‘Vikram’, ICGS ‘Vijaya’, ICGS ‘Veera’, ICGS ‘Varaha’, ICGS ‘Varad’, ICGS ‘Vajra’.
Recent Related News:
i.On August 19, 2020 The 27-meter-long Interceptor Boat(IB) ‘ICGS C-454’, built by Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) was launched into the service of the Indian Coast Guard(ICG) during a ceremony in Surat.
ii.On May 15, 2020 Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the indigenously-built Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet through video conference from New Delhi.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
Director General of ICG (DG ICG) – Krishnaswamy Natarajan
Headquarters – New Delhi
