Cochin Shipyard delivers the Fast Patrol Vessel to the Indian Coast Guard

Cochin Shipyard Limited delivers the Fast Patrol Vessel (BY 515) to the Indian Coast Guard, the company said in its press release. The vessel will be operated from the Coast  Guard Station at Okha, Gujarat. These Fast Patrol Vessels are primarily intended for patrolling within the Exclusive  Economic Zone & Coastal Patrol, carrying out anti smuggling, anti piracy and search &  rescue operations, and for fisheries protection & monitoring. They also have a secondary  role of providing a communication link, and escort  coastal convoys, in times of hostilities  and war. The fourteenth ship of the series “ICGS Apoorva”  was delivered on 31st July 2015 almost 2 months ahead of the contractual schedule. By achieving the FPV deliveries once in 1.5  to 2 month intervals as against the contractual requirement of once in 3 months, the yard  is planning to complete the contract much ahead of  schedule, thus ensuring the coastal  security of the nation. The launching of the 18th Ship and the keel laying of the 19th ship was carried out on the 28th of last month. The last vessel of the order is  to be delivered by Mar 2017 as per the  contract with ICG. However, with the current pace of construction, Cochin Shipyard is targeting to accomplish this by mid of 2016, much a head of schedule.