India commissions seventh and final Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel

The ICGS Vigraha (39). Photo c/o Zee News.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commissioned its seventh and final Vikram-class offshore patrol vessel on 28 August 2021.

The commissioning of the new ship, named ICGS Vigraha (39), was led by Indian Defence Minister Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh in Chennai, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Shri M.K. Stalin, Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravene, together with top officials from the Indian Coast Guard including Director General Indian Coast Guard Shri K Natarajan.

According to a press release by the Indian Ministry of Defence, the ship will be based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on the country’s eastern seaboard under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East).

The Vikram-class were designed by Indian shipbuilder and defense company Larsen & Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd, and built in the company’s Kattupalli Shipyard in Chennai.

The ships are 98 meters long, 15 meters wide, and displaces 2,150 tons. It has a total crew of 11 officers and 110 sailors.

It is powered by two 9,100-kilowatt diesel engines which allows the ship to reach a maximum speed of 26 knots, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles at economical speed.

The vessels are armed with a 40mm Bofors L60 gun, and two 12.7mm heavy machine guns in Remote Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS).

They are also equipped with an integrated bridge system, integrated platform management system, automated power management system, and external fire-fighting system.

It can also accommodate a twin-engine helicopter, and four high speed rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) for VBSS. It also has a pollution response equipment which can help in containing oil spills at sea.




[1] Naval News
[2] Hindustan Times
[3] India Today