The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday launched Atal, the fifth vessel in a series of eight Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) being built by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).
Addressing the gathering, Rozy Agarwal, IDAS, PIFA, Coast Guard Headquarters, highlighted that these vessels have been indigenously designed and constructed by GSL to meet the specific operational requirements of the ICG.
The vessel is 52 metres in length, 8 metres in breadth, and has a displacement of 320 tonnes. These advanced FPVs will assist the ICG in safeguarding offshore assets and island territories.
Their primary roles will include fisheries protection, monitoring of island territories and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), as well as coastal patrols. The vessels are also equipped to undertake anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search and rescue operations.
The project has significantly contributed to local employment, especially for MSMEs and industries engaged in production activities within GSL and its partner facilities.
“The launch of Atal stands as an exemplary testimony to the nation’s shipbuilding capabilities and Goa Shipyard’s commitment to delivering indigenously designed, state-of-the-art vessels to meet national security requirements,” an ICG spokesperson said in a statement.