ICGS Rajveer, seventh in a series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) designed and built by M/s GRSE, Kolkota was commissioned on 10 Aug 13, at Visakhapatnam by Shri RK Mathur, Indian Defence Secretary, in the presence of Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, AVSM, Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General of SP Sharma, PTM, TM, Commander of Coast Guard Region (East) and other senior dignitaries of the Central and State Government.
Other distinguished guests present on the occasion included Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, Chief of Staff of the Eastern Naval Command, followed by numerous flag officers, commanding officers and senior officers from ships and establishments based at Visakhapatnam.
The Defence Secretary was welcomed by a fifty-man guard and introduced to the ship’s officers and senior sailors thereafter. The inaugural address was delivered by Rear Admiral (Retd) NK Mishra, Chairman and Managing Director of M/s GRSE, and Vice Admiral Anurag Thapliyal, DGICG delivered the keynote address. Commandant Rajiv Ranjan, commanding officers of ICGS Rajveer, read out the Commissioning Warrant of the vessel. Hoisting of the Coast Guard Ensign onboard for the first time and ‘Breaking of the Commissioning Pennant’ with the National Anthem being played marked the completion of the Commissioning Ceremony.
The ship on joining the Coast Guard Fleet will enhance the Coast Guard’s capability in furthering its mandate of providing maritime safety and security, environmental protection and coastal security on the eastern sea boarder.
[mappress] Press Release, August 13, 2013; Image: Indian Navy