The first indigenously developed Pollution Control Vessel of ICG launched at GSL
The PCV ‘Samudra Pratap’.
VASCO
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth has urged industry partners to work for the country to become not only fully self-sufficient (Aatmanirbhar) in defence production but also a net exporter.
He was speaking on the occasion of the launching of the first indigenously built Pollution Control Vessel ‘Samudra Pratap’ in Goa on Thursday. The first ship of the two-vessel project was launched in a ceremonious way at the hands of Neeta Seth in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Girish Borkar and GSM CMD B K Upadhyay.
The Indian Coast Guard was represented by IG Bhisham Sharma, COMCG (West) and IG HK Sharma, DDG (M&M). Flag Officer Goa Naval Area R. Adm Ajay Theophilus also graced the event.
The ship has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The vessel will help to check the oil spillage on the country’s sea coast. The union minister said it is heartening to note that the country has become Aatmanirbharta in shipbuilding for defence needs and started building ships for other countries.
Speaking further, Seth said this project is prestigious not only for GSL but for the entire Goa and the country. “This project is a stepping stone for the GSL to construct technologically advanced pollution control vessels which will carry out dedicated oil spill response operations in the EEZ and beyond in the near future,” said Seth.
“It is indeed a matter of pride that GSL is among the very few shipyards who have mastered the art of building vessels with complex design for the Indian Defence forces.”
The GSL signed a contract for constructing two Pollution Control Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of Rs 583 crore. It is for the first time that these vessels are being designed and constructed indigenously. The ship has been designed and constructed in-house by Goa Shipyard Ltd to meet the specific requirements of ICG. The ship has a length of 114.5m, a breadth of 16.5m and would displace 4170 T. The ship will be manned by 14 officers and 115 sailors.
The vessel is fitted with two side sweeping arms to contain oil spills whilst in motion, and an advanced radar system with the capability to detect oil spills. The ship is designed to recover the lightest to most viscous oil, pump in the contaminated water, analyse the contaminant, separate the oil and store it in storage tanks onboard.
The keel laying ceremony of the ship was held on November 21, 2022. The launching ceremony was attended by Brajesh Kumar Upadhyaya, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL along with officials from the Ministry of Defence, ICG, Indian Navy and Goa Shipyard Ltd.
‘Samudra Pratap’ is an exemplary testimony of the nation's shipbuilding capabilities and propels Goa Shipyard Limited into the league of Indian Shipyards capable of producing state-of-the-art Pollution Control Vessels.
