Chennai, September 25: Boosting maritime security, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Varaha at a special function held at Chennai Port today. The ship is the fourth in the series of seven offshore patrol vessels of the Coast Guard. It will be based at New Mangalore in Karnataka under the Western Command. This ship is well equipped with all the modern technology and the facilities required by the ICG to ensure maritime security for our country.
The 98-meter offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha has been designed and constructed indigenously. It is equipped with 30- millimeter gun and has an integrated bridge system, platform management systems, and automated power management system and high power external firefighting system.
It is capable of carrying a twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats for swift boarding, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrolling operations. It also carries pollution response equipment for handling incidents like an oil spill at sea.
ICGS Varaha is propelled by two 9100-kilowatt diesel engines. It can attain a maximum speed of 26 knots and has the endurance of 5000 nautical miles. The Indian Coast Guard has said in a statement that it will be deployed for the surveillance of India's Exclusive Economic Zone and to safeguard the maritime interests of the country.