The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) on Tuesday launched the third fast patrol vessel (FPV) being built for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Nina Paul Antony launched the vessel ‘Abhinav’ bearing yard hull no. BY 503 in the presence of Coast Guard DIG Satish Chandran, Commander District headquarters No 4 and DIG T P Sadanandan, CGRPS (K) of Indian Coast Guard.
CSL chairman and managing director Commodore K Subramaniam, Cochin Port Trust chairman Paul Antony and senior officials of the Coast Guard, Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard were also present at the function.
The launch was a visual spectacle in its innovativeness.With the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) occupying the building dock, the FPV weighing 120 tonne was placed on specially-designed cradles at the dock head hoisted by the gantry crane and transported over the entire length of the IAC, before being lowered into the water.
The vessel is the third in a series of 20 FPVs being built by the CSL for the Coast Guard. The contract was signed in 2010 with delivery of the last vessel slated for 2017. The vessels are being built under the dual classification requirements of the ABS and IRS. It will have a speed of 33 knots. The primary role of the vessel includes fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within exclusive economic zone and coastal patrol, anti-smuggling, search and rescue operations and anti-piracy operations.
The vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link & escort convoys during hostilities and war time. “Though small in size, these high speed FPVs are extremely complex and technologically challenging,” said CSL authorities.
“The ships are propelled by water jets to attain a speed of 33 knots. The high-speed boats are weight sensitive and aluminium has been extensively used for its body,” they said.