COMMISSIONING OF INSHORE PATROL VESSEL (IPV)

ICGS RAJKAMAL - 08 JAN 13

Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajkamal, the fourth in the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) designed and built by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata was commissioned at Chennai by the Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Jitendra Singh in the presence of Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan, AVSM, NM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General SP Sharma, PTM, TM, Commander Coast Guard Region (East) and other senior dignitaries of the Central and State Govt.

The 50 meter indigenous IPV displaces 300 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 knots, with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 16 knots. Equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment, it makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close-coast missions such as surveillance, interdiction, Search and Rescue, and medical evacuation. The special features of the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) and an integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control system (FCS).

         ICGS "Rajkamal", literally meaning "Royal Lotus", will be based at Chennai and will be under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region(East).

The ship will enhance the Indian Coast Guard’s capability to undertake operations to further Maritime Safety and Security and Coastal Security on the Eastern Seaboard.

With the commissioning of ICGS Rajkamal, the force level of ICG has gone up to 77 ships and boats and with the planned inductions the force level would be doubling by 2018

        

         The ship is commanded by Commandant Ravindra Kumar and has a crew of 05 Officers and 30 Enrolled Personnel.