VASCO: Goa’s coastal security system has received a boost with the addition of another offshore patrol vessel ‘Apoorva’.
“This could be treated as another tooth to the present coastal security, surveillance and reconnaissance handled by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Goa unit,” said Commandant Akshay Jain, public relations officer (PRO) of ICG Goa at the induction ceremony of ‘Apoorva’ on Saturday.
He further said, “We already have a stringent security system for Goa’s coastline. New patrol vessels will enhance the Coast Guard’s operational strength and reach in Goa and part of the Karnataka-Maharashtra coasts. Very soon, ICG Goa will get another 105-meter long offshore patrol vessel with a complement of 112 officers and sailors. The ship will also fulfil ICG’s requirements for policing the vast Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Apoorva is equipped with a long-range gun, ultra-modern vessel control, navigation and communication tools and other state-of-the-art equipment. It has a complement of five officers and 34 sailors and is capable of patrolling for five days without replenishment.
The ship has a length of 50 meters and can achieve a speed of 33 knots. The speed is a huge advantage as it can reach the high seas quickly during emergencies, such as search and rescue operations, medical evacuations, and anti-smuggling operations.
The coast guard’s strength in Goa has been increasing extensively every year. In the last few, the ICG Goa staff has also doubled, further improving Goa’s coastal security.
