Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Samudra Pratap’

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) first indigenously designed and built pollution control vessel ‘Samudra Pratap’ in Goa on January 5.

• Measuring 114.5 metres in length and 16.5 metres in breadth, it is the largest ship in the ICG fleet.

• Built by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), it has over 60 per cent of indigenous content. 

• The 4,200-tonne vessel boasts a speed of more than 22 knots and an endurance of 6,000 nautical miles.

• It will serve as a critical platform for enforcing marine pollution control regulations, maritime law enforcement, search and rescue operations, and safeguarding India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

• The ship is powered by two 7,500 kW diesel engines driving indigenously developed controllable pitch propellers and gearboxes, offering superior manoeuvrability, flexibility and endurance of 6,000 nautical miles. 

• The vessel’s primary role is pollution response at sea, supported by state-of-the-art systems including side-sweeping arms, floating booms, high-capacity skimmers, portable barges, and a pollution control laboratory.

• The ship is also fitted with an external fire-fighting system (Fi-Fi Class 1) and integrates advanced systems such as dynamic positioning, integrated bridge system, integrated platform management system, and automated power management system to enhance automation and mission efficiency.

• Its armament includes a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns supported by modern fire-control systems. 

• The ship will be based at Kochi.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)