• Indian Coast Guard’s fifth offshore patrol vessel ‘Saksham’ was commissioned in Goa by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.

• The 105-meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV) has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited and is fitted with advanced technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.

• It is the fifth in the series of 105-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) class.

• The ship is designed to carry one twin engine helicopter and four high speed boats, including two inflatable boats for boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol.

• Saksham is also capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.

• ‘Saksham’ means capable.

• The vessel will be fitted with a 30mm 2A42 Medak gun and two 12.7 mm SRCG guns with FCS. The ship is also equipped with an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), Power Management System (PMS) and High Power External fire fighting (EFF) system. 

• The ship is propelled by two 9,100 KW diesel engines to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots. 

• The ship, on joining the Coast Guard fleet will be based at Kochi. 

• It will be deployed extensively for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard charter. 

• Presently, Indian Coast Guard has an expanding fleet of ships and aircraft. Further, numerous ships are at various stages of construction at different Indian Shipyards and Advance Light Helicopters are under production at HAL, Bengaluru which will provide the added strength to the surveillance capabilities of ICG to deal with the ever-dynamic maritime challenges.

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