Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘ICGS-Rajkamal’, the fourth in the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) designed and built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, was commissioned at Chennai by the Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh on January 8.
The 50 meter indigenous IPV displaces 300 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 knots, with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 16 knots. Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment, it makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close-coast missions such as surveillance, interdiction, Search and Rescue, and medical evacuation. The special features of the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) and an integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control system (FCS).
ICGS “Rajkamal”, literally meaning “Royal Lotus”, will be based at Chennai and will be under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region(East). The ship is commanded by Commandant Ravindra Kumar and has a crew of 5 officers and 30 enrolled personnel.
The ship will enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to undertake operations to further Maritime Safety and Security and Coastal Security on the Eastern Seaboard.
With the commissioning of ICGS Rajkamal, the force level of ICG has gone up to 77 ships and boats and with the planned inductions the force level would be doubling by 2018.
Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan, Director General Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General SP Sharma, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) and other senior dignitaries of the Central and State Govt were present during the commissioning ceremony.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 9, 2013