Coast Guard gets two fast patrol vessels

The Indian Coast Guard received two fast patrol vessels (FPVs), designed and built by the Cochin Shipyard Ltd Kochi, on Friday, said a government statement.

The Coast Guard ships 'Aryaman' and 'Atulya', the 18th and 19th in the series of 20 FPVs, were commissioned by Financial Advisor to Defence Services Sunil Kumar Kohli, according to the statement.

The 50-metre patrol ships displace 317 tonnes of water and can cruise at a speed of 33 knots. At an economical speed of 13 knots, the FPV has a range of 1,500 nautical miles.

Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry, advanced communication and navigational equipment, FPVs undertake close-coast missions such as surveillance, search and rescue and interdiction.

ICGS Aryaman will be based at Kochi under the administrative control of Commander, Coast Guard Region (West), and Atulya will be based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).

--IANS

rs/nir/vt