Source: PIB
Context: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) achieved a major milestone with the launch of two new Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) — ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit — at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
About ICG Fast Patrol Vessels: ICGS Ajit & ICGS Aparajit
- Name and Builder:
- Vessels: ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit
- Built by: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), under the Make in India initiative.
- Series: Part of the eight FPVs being constructed indigenously for the Indian Coast Guard.
- Dimensions and Design:
- Length: 52 metres
- Displacement: 320 tonnes
- Hull and superstructure: Designed and built entirely in India, showcasing indigenous shipbuilding expertise.
- Propulsion System:
- Equipped with Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) — the first of their kind in this class in India — ensuring superior manoeuvrability, speed, and fuel efficiency.
- Designed for multi-mission flexibility in diverse maritime conditions.
- Operational Roles:
- Primary Missions: Coastal patrol, fisheries protection, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search & rescue (SAR) operations.
- Operational Area: Particularly effective around India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and island territories, ensuring round-the-clock maritime security.
- Significance:
- Strengthens India’s blue-water surveillance and enhances response readiness against maritime threats.
- Demonstrates India’s self-reliance in naval defence production under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Contributes to the ICG’s mission of ensuring safe, secure, and clean seas for national and regional stability.
