KOCHI: Adding to the fleet power of Indian Coast Guard in Kerala & Mahe region, an offshore patrol vessel will soon join service in Kochi. The 105m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) named ICGS Saksham was commissioned in Goa on Wednesday and will be based in Kochi to enhance CG’s operational capability to discharge multifarious maritime tasks along Kerala and Lakshadweep coast.
ICGS Saksham, the fifth in the series of 105m OPVs, was commissioned by defence secretary Ajay Kumar in the presence of Coast Guard director general VS Pathania at Goa Shipyard Limited, which designed and built the ship. Coast Guard Kerala & Mahe now has only two big ships under its control. One of them is part of the first training squadron of the Indian Navy, based in Kochi, to provide training to officers of the Navy and Coast Guard.
