Porbandar, Apr 2 (PTI) The Indian Coast Guard has rebased its offshore patrol vessel ICGS Shaurya to Porbandar from Chennai with effect from April 1 to augment operational capability along the strategically important Gujarat coast.

The move underscores the continued commitment of the Coast Guard to ensure safety, security and environmental protection in the maritime domain, an official statement informed on Thursday.

“The rebasing of the vessel to Porbandar will strengthen coastal and offshore security along the Gujarat coast, enhance surveillance in the Arabian Sea, and improve response capability for safeguarding national maritime interests. It will also help protect the interests of fishermen operating off the Gujarat coast,” the force said.

ICGS Shaurya, an offshore patrol vessel of the Samarth class that has been indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited, measures approximately 105 metres in length and 13.6 metres in width, with a displacement of around 2,300 tonnes. It can achieve speeds up to 23 knots (nautical miles per hour) and has an endurance of about 20 days, the statement from ICG said.

“An operational range of nearly 6,000 nautical miles makes it suitable for sustained offshore operations. Equipped with modern navigation, communication and surveillance systems, as well as integrated platform management systems, the vessel is armed with a CRN-91 main armament gun,” the statement said.

ICGS Shaurya can also embark a twin-engine helicopter such as the HAL Dhruv and deploy high-speed boats for rapid response operations.

Designed as a multi-mission platform, the vessel will undertake maritime surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling and law enforcement operations and also contribute to marine environmental protection efforts, the statement informed. PTI COR PJT PD BNM