OPVs are long range surface ships, capable of operating in maritime zones of the country including island territories with helicopter operation capabilities. The OPV is 98m long, 15m wide, has 3.6m draught, 2140 tonnes displacement and a range of 5,000 nm. It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots.

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Some of the roles undertaken by the OPVs include coastal and offshore patrol, policing maritime zones of the country, surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.

The vessel will be inducted into the Coast Guard after completion of extensive trials and testing for the equipment and machinery.

Larsen and Toubro has already designed and built ICGS Vikram, ICGS Vijaya, ICGS Veera, ICGS Varaha, ICGS Varad and ICGS Vajra.

ICGS Kanaklata Barua Commissioned

Earlier, on 30 September, Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ICGS Kanaklata Barua of the Indian Coast Guard was commissioned at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The FPV was delivered to the Indian Coast Guard on June 9.

FPVs are medium-range surface vessels with a length of 50m, width of 7.5m and displacement of around 308 tonnes. Its powerful, fuel-efficient platforms are designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations.

The vessels are designed for a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nm. It is equipped with three main engines. The entire design of the FPVs has been developed in-house by GRSE as per requirements specified by the Indian Coast Guard.

Coastal Security Exercise

A two-day coastal security exercise, named ‘Sagar Kavach,’ was conducted by the Indian Navy, along with Indian Coast Guard and concluded on 8 October.

Coastal police, coastal district administration, Cochin Port, fisheries department, Customs, Marine Enforcement Wing, Central Industrial Security force (CISF), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Light House department and members of fishermen community participated in the exercise. More than 20 ships of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard as well as 50 patrol craft manned by various security agencies participated in the exercise.

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From Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and Dibrugarh to Kachchh, the Army carried out various activities like laying wreath at the police memorials, honouring and felicitating health professions and emergency supply operatives. Visits to hospitals were carried out over hundreds of towns in all states from the local army formations all over the nation in small and big numbers by army teams along with military bands which played patriotic tunes as a tribute to the nation’s frontline warriors against coronavirus.

Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Agra, Amritsar, Belgaum, Ranikhet Pithoragarh among many metropolis, big and small townships saw the Army, Navy and IAF and Coast Guard (ICG) visiting hospitals and paying tributes. The activities started with laying wreaths at the local police memorials, an event which is truly unprecedented and brings the forces closer to their uniformed brethren. Whole country and all countrymen enjoyed this rich salute and poured wishes and love to the armed forces over social media.

The Armed Forces also organised multiple other events like fly past by fighter and transport aircrafts of the IAF throughout the length and breadth of the country. The helicopters of IAF, Indian Navy and ICG showered flower petals on the hospitals treating COVID patients. Army and IAF bands visited COVID hospitals and played tunes in an expression of gratitude to the Corona Warriors.

Fighter aircraft formations, comprising of the Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar fly past over Rajpath and orbited over Delhi visible to the residents from their roof tops. In addition, C-130J Hercules transport aircraft also flew over Delhi.

The Navy and ICG ships formed formations near shores at select locations. Ships were illuminated at 25 locations covering the entire coastline of the country including the remote sites and far flung island territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands.

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