NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard‘s (ICG) first indigenously designed and constructed air pollution management vessel ‘Samudra Pratap’ in Goa on Monday, saying the ship will “bolster India’s self-confidence”. The 114.5-metre vessel, constructed by Goa Shipyard Restricted (GSL), has over 60% of indigenous content material.In the course of the commissioning of ‘Samudra Pratap’ in Goa, the defence minister stated, “”Commissioning of this ship will enhance our power. This ship is the image of our collective resolve. When this ship advances in opposition to the waves, then our Coast Guard and India’s self-confidence can even be bolstered. I’ve been instructed that this ship is designed with a give attention to air pollution management, however I additionally consider it’s able to search and rescue operations, coastal patrol and is vital in strengthening maritime security.“
‘Samudra Pratap’, which is a big milestone in India’s journey in direction of self-reliance in defence manufacturing, can also be the biggest ship within the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) fleet, considerably enhancing its operational attain and functionality.“It’s a product of the fashionable strategy adopted by GSL, to reinforce flexibility and readiness to cope with present-day maritime challenges,” Rajnath stated, including, “Our Coast Guard has instilled such worry within the minds of our enemies that if anybody dares to even solid a watch towards our borders, the Coast Guard will go away them in no situation to take action once more.”He stated the ‘Samudra Pratap’ commissioning is linked to the nation’s grand maritime imaginative and prescient, which recognises that marine assets are usually not the property of any single nation however the shared heritage of humanity. “When a heritage is shared, the accountability for its safety can also be shared. That’s the reason India right now stands firmly on the worldwide stage, guided by the ideas of peace, stability, and environmental accountability,” he stated.On X, ICG stated. “Constructed by GSL with over 60% indigenous content material, the 114.5 metre, 4,200 tonnes vessel boasts a velocity of greater than 22 knots and an endurance of 6,000 nm, considerably enhancing the ICG’s air pollution response, fire-fighting, and maritime security and safety capabilities.”Outfitted with superior methods, ‘Samudra Pratap’ will considerably improve ICG’s functionality to handle oil spills, maritime emergencies and safety challenges in unique financial zones and past. It has been designed and constructed in-house to satisfy the coast guard’s particular operational necessities.The vessel is provided with state-of-the-art expertise, together with a 30mm CRN-91 gun, two 12.7mm stabilised remote-controlled weapons with built-in fireplace management methods, an indigenously developed built-in bridge system, built-in platform administration system, automated energy administration system, and a high-capacity exterior firefighting system, as per ICG. The ship shall be primarily based at ICG’s Kochi base.Hailing India as a accountable maritime energy, the Defence Minister stated that, “At a time when the world is passing by an period of worldwide maritime uncertainty, India has repeatedly confirmed that it safeguards not solely its personal pursuits but in addition ensures peace and stability throughout your complete Indo-Pacific area. This inclusive strategy of transferring ahead collectively is what makes India a accountable maritime energy.”“We should form norms within the area of maritime governance, strengthen capacity-building initiatives and advance cooperative frameworks. The Indian Coast Guard should elevate its operational doctrines, institutional practices, and technological improvements to such benchmarks that their finest practices are adopted worldwide,” he stated.