Fast Patrol Vessel launched by Cochin Shipyard
Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) has launched the 14th of the series of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) being built for the Indian Coast Guard.
With this, CSL said, it has accomplished a rare feat of achieving three ship building milestones viz, keel laying, launching and delivery of three different ships of a project, on the same day.
The vessel ‘ICGS APOORVA’ was launched by Vijaya Goyal, wife of IG S K Goyal in a simple ceremony at Cochin Shipyard.
On the occasion, Goyal laid the keel for the 15th FPV. CSL also delivered the eleventh FPV ‘ICGS ANAGH’ to the Coast Guard. It was launched on October 1, 2014.
The Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance was signed between Capt R S Sundar, Director (Operations), CSL and the Commanding Officer (Designate) of the vessel Commandant (JG) Manish Bahl. The vessel will be operated from the Coast Guard Station in Chennai.
Incidentally the steel cutting of the 20th Ship BY 520 was on February 24. The project is now progressing at a very fast pace. CSL said 11 vessels have been delivered in 17 months. All the 20 Fast Patrol Vessels are expected to be delivered significantly ahead of the scheduled delivery date, it said.
CSL has so far this year delivered seven vessels -- six FPVs to the Coast Guard and one Offshore Support Vessel to a Norwegian owner.
The yard is also constructing the most prestigious warship - the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier for the Indian Navy.
