The Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) on Thursday launched the second Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) being built for the Indian Coast Guard.
The vessel, named Abheek, was launched by Jayasree Chandran in the presence of DIG Satish Chandran, Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters 4, DIG T P Sadanandan, CGRPS (K) of Indian Coast Guard and Commodore K Subramaniam, C&MD, Cochin Shipyard Ltd. The launch was a spectacle to behold. The FPV was placed on specially-designed cradles and transported over the entire length of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier which is located at the building dock, before being lowered into the waters.
The vessel is the second in a series of 20 FPVs being built by the Shipyard for the Coast Guard. The contract in this regard was signed in 2010, and the delivery of the last vessel is slated for 2017.
The primary role of the vessel includes fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, search and rescue operations and for anti-piracy operations.
The vessels also provide communication links and escort convoys during hostilities and war time.