India to deploy new ship bordering SL waters

The Indian Coast Guard is to deploy the newly commissioned ship ‘Vaibhav’, the third in a series of 90-meter class offshore patrol vessel in the Gulf of Mannar and up to the international maritime boundary line with Sri Lanka, the Times of India reported.

“The vessel will be exploited extensively in the Eastern region, more so, in the sensitive Gulf of Mannar and up to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka, to safeguard the maritime interests of India,” the coast guard said.

The ship was commissioned at a naval dockyard in Tuticorin by vice admiral Anurag G Thapliyal, director general Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday.

"The vessel designed and built indigenously by GSL is equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. Her features include an integrated bridge system and machinery control system, power management system, a high power external fire fighting system and one indigenous close range naval gun, CRN-91, along with an optical fire control system," said a coast guard spokesperson.

The ship is designed to carry one helicopter and five high speed boats for search and rescue. "Besides law enforcement and maritime patrol, the ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to combat oil spill and similar maritime accidents," said an official note as part of the commissioning of Vaibhav.

The ship draws 1940 tons and is propelled by two diesel engines to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots. At economical speed, it has an endurance of 4500 nautical miles and can remain in the mid seas for 15 days.