New fast patrol vessel to bolster coastal protection

Panaji: Goa Shipyard on Monday launched a new fast patrol vessel for the Indian Coast Guard to bolster the maritime fleet and safeguard offshore assets and island territories. The patrol vessel, the fifth in a series of eight fast patrol vessels, features a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) and has 60% indigenous equipment.

The fast patrol vessel, christened Achal, is part of the Indian Coast Guard’s efforts to modernise its current fleet, said coast guard commander (western seaboard), additional director general Anil Kumar Harbola.

“We systematically modernised our fleet. The FPV class of ships forms a critical component of our capability. This vessel is a reaffirmation of our commitment to national maritime security, self-reliance, and operational excellence,” said Harbola.

The vessel is designed for high-speed interdiction and versatile missions in coastal and offshore zones, said Harbola. Designed and constructed under stringent dual-class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of Shipping, Achal measures 52m in length and 8m in breadth, with a displacement of 320 tonnes.

Powered by a CPP-based propulsion system, the vessel can attain a top speed of 27 knots.

“The ship is a leap forward in design and function for the Indian Coast Guard and shipbuilding,” said Harbola. Built at a total cost of Rs 473 crore, the project also provided a significant boost to local industry by generating substantial employment and supporting MSMEs within GSL.

Referring to the Indian Coast Guard’s recent maritime interventions and assistance to commercial shipping vessels, Harbola said that the Indian Coast Guard earned the moniker of ‘saviour at sea’.