On May 15, 2020 Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh has commissioned the indigenously-built Indian Coast Guard Ship(ICGS) Sachet, the 1st in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and Interceptor Boats(IB’s) C-450 and C-451 in Goa by video conference from New Delhi.
- For the 1st time in Indian maritime history that a ship was commissioned through digital medium by maintaining strict protocol of social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet
Sachet’ means alert is projection of will and commitment of ICG ‘to be ever vigilant for serving and protecting’ the maritime interest of the Nation
i.The 105 metre ship is designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.
ii.It displaces approximately 2,350 tonnes and is propelled by two 9,100 KW diesel engines designed to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots, with an endurance of 6,000 nautical miles(nm).
iii.The sustenance, reach, the latest equipment and system, provides the capability to perform the role of a command platform and undertake tasks to fulfil the Coast Guard charter.
iv.The ship is designed to carry a twin-engine helicopter, four high speed boats and one inflatable boat for swift boarding and search and rescue operations. It is capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to undertake oil spill pollution response at sea.
v.Deputy Inspector General Rajesh Mittal commands ICGS Sachet and is manned by 11 officers and 110 men.
IB’s C-450 and C- 451Â
i.The two 30 metre boats are designed and built by Larsen & Toubro(L&T) Shipyard, Hazira (Gujarat) and are fitted with the latest navigation and Communication equipment.
ii.They are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 45 knots and are designed for high-speed interception, close coast patrol and low-intensity maritime operations.
iii.The IB’s are commanded by Assistant Commandant Gaurav Kumar Gola and Assistant Commandant Akin Zutshi.
Key Points
i.The ICG has been a pioneer in inducting indigenous assets which has enabled it to remain operationally available throughout the year.
ii.The Indian shipbuilding industry has about 70% indigenous content. The ship and boats, on joining the ICG fleet, will be deployed extensively for EEZ (exclusive economic zone) surveillance, coastal security and other duties.
iii.With the latest commissioning the ICG has reached a landmark of 150 ships and boats and 62 aircraft. In addition 40 ships are at various stages of construction at different Indian shipyards
iv.16 Advanced Light Helicopters are under production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL), Bengaluru, which will provide additional strength to the surveillance capabilities of the ICG to deal with the ever-dynamic maritime challenges
Members present at the occasion- Ajay Kumar, defence secretary; D.G. Krishnaswamy Natarajan; Secretary (Defence Finance), Gargi Kaul, and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence were present in Delhi. Minister of State for Defence Shripad Yesso Naik and Chairman & Managing Director(CMD) of Goa Shipyard, Cmde Bharat Bhushan Nagpal were present in the Vasco facility of Goa Shipyard Ltd at the time of commissioning.
Other Induction:
Separately, the Navy formally inducted Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L57 into service at Port Blair. This is the seventh LCU in the series of the MK-IV class that has been indigenously designed and built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
About ICG:
Headquarters- New Delhi, India
Director General– Krishnaswamy Natarajan
About GSL:
Headquarters– Vasco da Gama, Goa
Chairman & Managing Director– Cmde Bharat Bhushan Nagpal
Constituencies
Rajnath Singh- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Shripad Yesso Naik- North Goa
