Cochin Shipyard Ltd has launched the first fast patrol vessel (FPV), being built for the Indian Coast Guard, on Wednesday.
The vessel — Aadesh — was launched by Jayasree Muralidharan, in the presence of M.P. Muralidharan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
K. Subramaniam, Chairman and Managing Director, senior officials of the Coast Guard, Indian Navy and Cochin Shipyard Ltd were present.
The vessel is the first in a series of 20 numbers FPVs contracted by CSL for the ICG.
The contract was signed in 2010 with the delivery of the last vessel slated for 2017.
These have a designed speed of 33 knots with propelled water jets to attain the speed.
The primary role of the vessel include fisheries protection and monitoring, patrol within exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and coastal patrol , anti smuggling, search and rescue operations and for anti piracy operations.
The vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link and escort convoys during hostilities and war time.
These high speed FPVs, though small in size, are complex and technologically challenging.
The ship has been designed by the Kochi-based SEDS and this is the first collaboration between CSL and a local design house, a release said.
The yard also launched two other platform supply vessels for PSV Holdings Inc, Cyprus.
Cochin Shipyard currently has 27 ships on order consisting of 20 FPVs, five offshore support ships for Indian and foreign owners, one buoy tender vessel for the Department of Lighthouses and Lightships and the Prestigious Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy.
sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in