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The Karnataka government will provide 160 acres of land at Kenjar village in Mangaluru taluk to set up a Coast Guard Training Academy, according to TM Vijay Bhaskar, State’s Chief Secretary.
Speaking at the commissioning of C-448 (a high-speed interceptor boat) of Indian Coast Guard at New Mangalore on Wednesday, he said that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has allotted the land for setting up a Coast Guard Training Academy. The State government has facilitated the process. “I am confident that in the times to come, this academy will become one of the premier institutions of training not only for the Coast Guard but also for the nation,” he said.
Vijay Bhaskar said that the C-448 is fitted with the latest navigation and communication equipment designed for high-speed interception, close coast patrol, low-intensity maritime operations, search and rescue, and maritime surveillance. This interceptor boat is capable of operating in shallow waters and deep seas.
On joining the Indian Coast Guard fleet at New Mangalore, the ship will be deployed for patrolling, rescue operations and other duties.
First batch delivered
Built by L&T Shipyard, C-448 is 27.80 metres long with a displacement of 106 tonnes. This water-jet-propelled vessel has an endurance of 500 nautical miles sailing at 20 knots and can do up to 45 knots.
Navaneeth Krishnan, Senior General Manager of L&T Shipyard, said that L&T believes in making things that makes India proud. Initially, L&T Shipyard received orders for building 36 interceptor boats for the Indian Coast Guard. Subsequently, the Indian Coast Guard placed orders for another 18 boats.
Terming it as a true testimony of the performance of the vessel, he said all 36 vessels of the first batch have been delivered.
He said C-448 is the 12th vessel in the series of additional 18 boats. The remaining six vessels are in various stages of trials. It took 15 months from keel-laying to the launch. During the trials, the vessel achieved a speed of 45.5 knots as against the required speed of 45 knots. It was delivered to the Coast Guard on November 29, 2019, he said.
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