India commissions second Coast Guard ACV

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned its Griffon Hoverworks Limited (GHL)-built second of twelve air cushion vehicles (ACVs), H-188, at Haldia in West Bengal, India.

Capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 45k, the 21m-long ACV has a displacement capacity of 31t and will be based at Haldia under the Administrative and Operational Control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (North-East).

The H-188 commissioning has marked the total number of ships & boats to 77, while the ICG is planning to deploy double the current fleet by 2018 to boost its maritime capability.

The ACV has been designed to support missions for the Coast Guard, which include surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to small boats/craft in distress at sea.

Commanded by commandant D Dinakaran, the boat will be accommodated with two officers and 11 enrolled personnel.

Earlier in 2012, the ICG has also commissioned third ACV, H-189, at Mumbai, India in November 2012 as well as third Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV), Rajkiran, at its eastern naval command base in Visakhapatnam, India.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers-built Rajkiran IPV is 50m-long, has a maximum speed of 34k and an endurance of 1500nm.