Indian Coast Guard takes delivery of high speed interceptor boat from L & T
The Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of the Union entrusted with the mission of safeguarding India’s maritime interests and enforcing the maritime law with jurisdiction over both the territorial and international waters. It commissioned at Porbandar the Coast Guard Ship C 401. a 30-meter-long interceptor boat with 90 tonne displacement. The boat can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots. It is very strong with the state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipments and a medium range armament, Daily Shipping Times reports.
It is designed by L & T to execute all the vital functions of the coast guard such as high speed interception when needed, close coast patrol, search and rescue and maritime surveillance. This is the first of 36 interceptor boats under contract with L & T worth about INR 977 crore.
This first interceptor boat was commissioned by Air Marshal AK Gogoi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command. Deputy Inspector General BS Yadav, Commander, Coast Guard Region (North West) was present during the commission.
The Coast Guard, as of now, has 77 ships and boats and, according to an official release, it will be double by 2018. The interceptor boat C- 401with its 12 crew members will be based at Mundra.
L & T is India’s leading manufacturing, engineering and construction major with a dominant presence in India’s infrastructure, power, hydrocarbon, machinery, shipbuilding and railway sectors.