Indian Coast Guard commissions ICGS Abheek

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has inducted another Cochin Shipyard (CSL)-built fast patrol vessel (FPV), ICGS Abheek, into its service during a ceremony at Kochi, India, in a bid to further strengthen coastal security.
 
Delivered in October 2013, Abheek represents the second of the total 20 FPVs CSL is manufacturing for ICG as part of a contract signed in October 2010.
 
The first FPV, named Aadesh, was commissioned at Cochin Shipyard on 13 December 2013.
 
Capable of achieving a maximum speed of 33k, the FPVs are expected to prove very effective in anti smuggling, anti piracy operations, and also in fisheries protection and monitoring missions.
 
In addition, the vessels have a secondary role of providing communication link and escort convoys during hostilities and war time.
 
Powered by three main engines, each having 2720KW capacity, Abheek is propelled by water jets, and is very weight sensitive due to the high speed of operation, and has been built using aluminium.
 
The delivery of remaining vessels under the contract is scheduled to complete by 2017.
 
In addition to the 20 FPVs, CSL is also constructing the warships of the country, the indigenous aircraft carrier and two offshore support vessels for the international owners.