KOCHI: Fast Patrol Vessel 'ICGS Arush' built by the Cochin Shipyard (CSL) for the Indian Coast Guard was commissioned into Coast Guard at a function held in Kochi on Thursday. Seventeenth vessel in a serries of 20 FPVs being built by the Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Coast Guard, Arush will be based at Porbandar under the operational control of the Commander Coast Guard ( North West ).
The Ship was commissioned by Additional Director General of the Coast Guard Surinder PalSingh Basra at the function held at Mattanchery wharf of the Cochin Port Trust. CSL director (Operations) Suresh Babu, Coast Guard Region (West). Commander K Natarajan and other senior officers of the Coast Guard were present at the function.
Primary role of the ship will be undertaking of multifarious tasks such as fisheries protection and monitoring, anti -smuggling surveillance, interdiction search and Rescue operations and medical evacuation. Secondary role of the ship is to provide escort to coastal coastal convoy during hostilities, and in wartime. The ship crew include four officers and 33 enrolled men.
Of the remaining three vessels to be delivered, sea trials of two vessels have been completed and the last vessel in the series has been launched on January 29 and is presently undergoing outfitting works.