Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 have been commissioned.

The ICGS Sachet, the first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) has been designed & built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.

Indian Coast Guard is the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world, it has established itself as a reliable force. It not only protects our coastline and coastal community, but also protects economic activities, and the maritime environment in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Raksha Mantri acknowledged that the sea can become a medium of any kind of threats sponsored by anti-national elements. Therefore it is extremely important to develop a collaborative and cooperative approach among all stakeholders.

He expressed confidence that the Coast Guard Ships being inducted from today onwards will add to their strength and help in addressing the challenges related to maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling, maritime law enforcement and the search and rescue of threatened mariners.

About Sachet

The 105-metre-long ship ‘Sachet’ displaces approximately 2,350 tons and is propelled by two 9,100 KW diesel engines designed to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots, with an endurance of 6,000 nautical miles.

The sustenance and reach, coupled with the latest equipment and systems, provide her with the capability to perform the role of a command platform and undertake tasks to fulfil the ICG charter.

The ship is designed to carry a twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats and one inflatable boat for swift boarding and search & rescue operations.

The ship is also capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to undertake oil spill pollution response at sea.

‘Sachet’ meaning alert is a projection of the will and commitment of ICG ‘to be ever vigilant for serving and protecting the maritime interest of the Nation.

It is for the first time in Indian maritime history that a ship was commissioned through a digital medium, maintaining a strict protocol of social distancing in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interceptor Boats C-450 and C-451

The IBS C-450 and C-451 are indigenously designed & built by Larsen & Toubro Shipyard Hazira, and fitted with the latest navigation and communication equipment.

The two 30-metre-long boats are capable of achieving speeds in excess of 45 knots and are designed for high-speed interception, close coast patrol and low-intensity maritime operations.

The quick response capability of the IBs makes it an ideal platform to respond to and thwart any emerging maritime situation.

The ships, on joining the Coast Guard fleet, will be deployed extensively for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, coastal security and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard charter of duties, to safeguard the maritime interests of the Nation.

With the commissioning of these ships, the ICG has reached a landmark of 150 ships & Boats and 62 aircraft.

Further, 40 ships are in various stages of construction at different Indian Shipyards and 16 advanced light helicopters are under production at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bengaluru, which will provide added strength to the surveillance capabilities of ICG to deal with the ever-dynamic maritime challenges.

Achievements of ICG

The ICG has to its credit of saving about 400 lives at sea, 4,500 lives as part of assistance rendered to civil authorities and undertook 32 medical evacuations in the year 2019 alone. The deterrence created by the ICG is not limited to the Indian waters, but collaboration with friendly littoral states as per provisions of bilateral cooperation agreements resulted in successful apprehension and seizure of drugs in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

The real-time information sharing, close coordination and understanding between ICG and other international agencies have been the key success of these operations.

Hawkeye vigil of the Indian EEZ has ensured seizure of Rs 2,000 crore contraband, and detainment of 30 foreign fishing vessels with 119 miscreants for fishing illegally in Indian waters during the same period.