India commissions third ACV for coast guard

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned its M/s Griffon Hoverworks Limited (GHL)-built third of twelve air cushion vehicles (ACVs), H-189, at Mumbai, India.

The 21m-long ACV has a displacement capacity of 31t and can cruise at a maximum speed of 45k and will be based at Okha under the Administrative and Operational Control of the Commander Coast Guard region (North-West).

Commissioning of H-189 has marked the total number of ships & boats to 77, while the ICG is planning to deploy double the current fleet by 2018 to boost its maritime capability.

The ACV has been designed to support missions for the coast guard which include surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to small boats/craft in distress at sea.

India comprises three hovercraft divisions with Mandapam hovercraft port for detecting threats from southern waters, Haldia hovercraft port for threats from Bangladesh and Okha port for Pakistan.

Commanded by commandant YogeshDutta, the boat will be accommodated with two officers and 11 enrolled personnel.

Earlier in 2012, the ICG has commissioned third of the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs), Rajkiran, at its eastern naval command base in Visakhapatnam, India.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers-built Rajkiran IPV is 50m-long, has a maximum speed of 34k and an endurance of 1500nm.