ICGS Aadesh, the first of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), for the Indian Coast Guard was commissioned into service today at CSL.
The contract for the construction of the 20 FPVs was signed on the 20th of October 2010. ICGS Aadesh, the first in the series and the first new building project by the yard for the Indian Coast Guard, was delivered on the 25th of September, this year.
The FPV is a small vessel compared to the larger vessels that CSL has built so far, but it is very complex and extremely challenging to build.
The ships with a length of 50 metres are designed to achieve speeds of 33 knots. The ship is extremely weight sensitive and CSL had to go in for weight reduction measures like making the superstructure of aluminum. It is the first time that Cochin Shipyard has undertaken fabrication of aluminum structures on such a scale.
Despite various challenges, the CSL’s welding technologists and workers have mastered the techniques required to produce extremely high quality aluminum welds. This has ensured that the designed speed of the vessel was achieved on her very first outing to the sea.
The ship’s primary roles include:
It also has a secondary role of providing communication link and escort services to convoys during hostilities and wartime. This ship propelled by water jets and powered by three Main Engines, each of capacity- 2720 KW is built to the dual classification requirements of ABS and IRS.
The shipyard delivered the second FPV on 30th of October 2013 and the third vessel is expected to be ready for delivery by the end of the year.
Apart from the 20 Fast Patrol Vessels, the yard is also constructing the most prestigious warship of the nation, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, and 2 Offshore Support Vessels for international owners.
[mappress] Press Release, December 13, 2013; Image: Cochin Shipyard