New Coast Guard interceptor vessel commissioned
By IANSFriday, October 1, 2010
GANDHINAGAR - Indian Coast Guard ship C-148, an interceptor vessel, was commissioned by Coast Guard chief, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra at an impressive ceremony at Gujarat’s Veraval Friday, according to an official release.
The C-148 is the sixth in the series of eleven boats designed and built indigenously by ABG Shipyard at Surat. Fitted with ultra-modern navigational and communication equipment, it will be deployed for enhancing the close-coast surveillance capability of the Coast Guard, the press release from the Coast Guard said.
The 28 metre Interceptor Boat with a 90 ton displacement is commanded by Commandant (Junior Grade) Kanwaljeet Singh and manned by 12 men. The boat has an endurance of 500 nautical miles at a speed of 25 knots and can achieve a maximum speed of 45 knots.
The boat is fitted with 12.7 mm ‘Prahari’ Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) for effective fire power.
With the induction of C-148, the Coast Guard fleet now comprises of 44 ships, 19 interceptor boats, six hovercraft, 24 fixed wing aircraft (Dornier) and 21 helicopters.
Chopra is slated to formally commission the Coast Guard Station in Veraval Saturday.
