The second Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS ‘ABHEEK’, built by Cochin Shipyard for the Indian Coast Guard, has been commissioned.
The contract for the construction of the 20 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard was signed on the 20th October 2010. These vessels can achieve a speed of 33 knots and would be very effective in anti smuggling, anti-piracy operations and also in fisheries protection and monitoring.
The ships can also provide communication link and escort convoys during hostilities and war times.
Due to the high speed of operation the vessel is very weight sensitive. In order to reduce the ship weight, the yard chose to build the superstructure with aluminum.
Since this is a first time that CSL is using aluminum to build ships, a great amount of innovation and techniques were required to be mastered to produce extremely high quality of aluminum welds.
The ABHEEK is propelled by water jets and powered by three Main Engines, each of capacity – 2720 KW is built to the dual classification requirements of ABS and IRS.
Apart from the 20 Fast Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard, the yard is also constructing the most prestigious warships of the nation, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier and 2 Offshore Support Vessels for the International Owners.
Cochin Shipyard, January 2, 2014; Image: Wikimedia