HSL-Built Coast Guard IPV Rani Durgavati Commissioned

HSL worked hand in hand with the Coast Guard Refit and Production Team for the vessel
HSL-Built Coast Guard IPV Rani Durgavati Commissioned

VISAKHAPATNAM : The Third Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV) of the Indian Coast Guard ICGS Rani Durgavati was commissioned here Monday. Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Vice Admiral Satish Soni, the chief guest, graced the occasion along with Inspector-General, Commander of Coast Guard, SP Sharma, Hindustan Shipyard Limited CMD Rear Admiral (retd) NK Mishra.

On the occasion, Vice Admiral Soni said that coastal security underwent a thorough change after 26/11. Security preparedness was needed all the time, including precautionary measures and frequent sea exercises. He added that all the agencies were important partners in this preparedness. The Coast Guard had been playing an important role coordinating with other security agencies.

Describing Rani Durgavati as “another arrow in the quiver of the Coast Guard”, Satish Soni said that the ship was named after Rani Durgavati, the Gond queen from the family of Rajput empire. She was the wife of Daalpat Shah and was famous for defeating the army of Baz Bahadur and bravely fought against the Mughal army. The Vice Admiral said that he was very much impressed with the HSL’s work which had built 174 ships and repaired 2,000 vessels, including submarines.

The 51-metre inshore patrol vessel, the third of its class, has been designed and built indigenously by the HSL. The ship is equipped with the most advanced and sophisticated navigational and communication sensors and equipment.

The vessel has a maximum speed of 34 knots and at an economical 14 knots has an endurance of 150 nautical miles.

Sharma said the Coast Guard had witnessed an exponential growth and was the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world with 118 ships, 63 aircraft and over 10,000 officers and personnel. “We have 84 ships and craft under construction at eight shipyards, which are expected to join the Coast Guard by 2019 and they would be evenly distributed across the 42 stations,” he said and added, “East Coast itself has undertaken 126 missions and saved 113 lives, apprehended 51 foreign boats with 266 crew and repatriated 84 foreign fishing boats with 445 crew.”

Rear Admiral (retd) NK Mishra said though the vessel was weight sensitive, the designed speed had been achieved in collaboration with Australia’s Thorny Craft. He also mentioned that the HSL had worked hand in hand with the Coast Guard Refit and Production Team.

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