Fast Patrol Vessel Abhinav, the Indian Coast Guard Ship commissioned in Kochi

The Indian Coast Guard Ship Abhinav was commissioned in Kochi on 15 January 2014 by the Director General of Coast Guard Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapiyal. Abhinav is the third in the series of twenty Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) and has been designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.

The ship has been named ICGS Abhinav (which literally means Modern). It will be based at Kochi under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West). The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) Raman Kumar and has complement of 5 officers and 34 other ranks.

About the Fast Patrol Vessel Indian Coast Guard Vessel (ICGS) Abhinav
• The 50 meter indigenous FPV displaces 290 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed of 13 knots,
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment
• It has been designed to undertake multifarious close-coast missions that includes surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue as well as medical evacuation

Special features of the ship includes
• Integrated Bridge Management System (IBMS)
• Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS)
• Integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control System (FCS)

In next five years, the Indian Coast Guard will have 150 ships/boats and 100 aircraft maritime force. Apart from these, a Coastal Surveillance Network is being established, which will have 46 stations to ensure real time coastal surveillance. The Government of India has an emphasis on the coastal security following asymmetric threats from the sea.