Context: The first of six indigenously constructed Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) was officially inducted into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) during a ceremony in Goa.
About The Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs):
What It Is?
- An Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), commonly known as a hovercraft, is an amphibious craft designed to travel smoothly over multiple surfaces—including water, mudflats, sandbars, and shallow beaches.
- It operates by generating a high-pressure cushion of air beneath its hull, which is contained by a flexible rubber skirt, allowing the vessel to float completely above the surface and eliminate water resistance.
Developed By: The high-tech vessel is being constructed indigenously by Chowgule & Company Private Limited.
Aim: The induction of these ACVs aims to enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s rapid-response capability for coastal security, shallow-water surveillance, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement operations.
Key Features of the ICG ACVs:
- Amphibious All-Terrain Maneuverability: Designed with zero draft, the hovercraft can transition seamlessly between deep sea channels, tidal mudflats, and sandy shores where traditional hulls would run aground.
- Six-Vessel Contract Fleet: This delivery marks the first of six planned indigenous ACVs to be sequentially constructed and integrated into the ICG fleet.
- Advanced Hull and Material Design: Built using lightweight, marine-grade materials paired with a durable rubber skirt system to preserve structural integrity while skimming over debris or rough coastal terrain.
- Modern Navigation & Communication Suite: Equipped with specialized marine radars, night-vision thermal imaging, and secure communication systems to enable round-the-clock operations in dense fog or zero-visibility conditions.
- Optimized Payload Space: Engineered with a versatile deck layout capable of carrying armed boarding parties, medical response teams, or rapid-intervention equipment.
Significance:
- ACVs can efficiently patrol marshes, creeks, and mudflats like Kutch and Sundarbans, improving surveillance and response against smuggling and illegal activities.
- Their ability to move from sea to shore enables rapid rescue operations and aid delivery during cyclones, floods, and maritime emergencies.
