PANAJI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned ICGS Samudra Pratap at Goa Shipyard, the first of two Goa-built Pollution Control Vessels, boosting the Coast Guard’s pollution-response and maritime safety capabilities.
Addressing the gathering today, Singh said the induction of Samudra Pratap would strengthen the Coast Guard and enhance India’s maritime preparedness. “The commissioning of this ship will increase our strength. When this ship moves ahead against the waves, it will also strengthen the self-confidence of our Coast Guard and the nation,” he said.
While the vessel has been designed primarily for pollution control, Singh said it would also support search and rescue operations, coastal patrol, and maritime safety. “Many capabilities have been integrated into this ship, which reflects the demands of today’s maritime challenges,” he added.
Built entirely in India with more than 60 per cent indigenous content, Samudra Pratap is the largest and most technologically advanced pollution control vessel constructed for the Indian Coast Guard. The commissioning is seen as a step forward in India’s push for self-reliance in defence shipbuilding.
The ship measures 114.5 metres in length with a beam of 16.5 metres and displaces about 4,200 tonnes. Powered by two 7,500 kW diesel engines driving indigenously developed controllable pitch propellers, it can achieve speeds of over 22 knots and has an endurance of approximately 6,000 nautical miles.
Designed for pollution response at sea, the vessel is equipped with side-sweeping arms, floating booms, high-capacity oil recovery systems, advanced skimmers, a pollution control laboratory, and portable barges for containment and recovery of oil spills. It is also fitted with an external fire-fighting system to respond to major fires on ships and offshore installations.
For operational efficiency, the vessel integrates modern systems including Dynamic Positioning, an Integrated Bridge System, an Integrated Platform Management System, and an Automated Power Management System. It is equipped with a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised, remotely controlled guns for maritime security duties.
Construction of Samudra Pratap began in February 2022, with the keel laid in November of the same year at Goa Shipyard Limited’s Vasco da Gama facility.
Commanded by Deputy Inspector General Ashok Kumar Bhama, the ship has a complement of 14 officers and 115 personnel, including two women officers making their maiden appointment on a Coast Guard ship. It will be based at Kochi under the operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West), through Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 4.
