ICGS AYUSH stands high and mighty for patrol at Kochi Naval base

ICGS AYUSH, the ship built by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) for anti-smuggling and search and rescue operations, is commissioned for service at Kochi Naval base on Saturday.

Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS AYUSH, the ship built by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) for anti-smuggling and search and rescue operations, was commissioned by Vice-Admiral A R Karve at the Naval base in Kochi on Saturday. (EPS | Albin Mathew) 

The Fast Patrol Vessel, though smaller to the ones CSL are used to building, is intended to help secure Indian waters by patrolling within the Exclusive Economic Zone and help in fisheries protection. (EPS | Albin Mathew)

The vessel will also play a secondary role of providing a communication link and escort coastal convoys in times of war. (EPS | Albin Mathew)

The AVSM Flag officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command, A R Karve, commissioned the AYUSH vessel for use at the Kochi Naval base on Saturday. (EPS | Albin Mathew)

It is not the first first feather in cap for CSL officials, as they had delivered the first AYUSH vessel for Naval service in September 2013 and have subsequently delivered them at two months' interval, summing up to 20 fleet for service so far. (EPS | Albin Mathew)

The AYUSH vessel so far has been surpassing expectations of the Indian Coast Guard with regard to performance, officials said, and the Kochi Naval base, too, keeps its hopes high. (EPS | Albin Mathew)