Port Blair, April 6: The Headquarters Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) welcomed its first Inshore Patrol Vessel (IPV), Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajdhwaj on 03rd April 22 at Campbell Bay. The ship is rebased from Port Blair and is the first IPV based at Southern Group of Islands. It was formally inducted in a rebasing ceremony held at Campbell Bay, with all security stakeholders and civil dignitaries in attendance.
The Vessel is last in the series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessel designed and constructed indigenously by M/s GRSE, Kolkata. The ship was commissioned in Indian Coast Guard on 11th Dec 2013 at Chennai and has been operating in Andaman and Nicobar Region since April 2018. The ship is equipped with state of art navigation and communication equipment.
ICGS Rajdhwaj has extended patrolling capabilities and capability to intercept targets. Along with surveillance and intercept capabilities, the Ship is well equipped to respond/ contain marine pollution and execute Search & Rescue (SAR) operations in the Area of Responsibility.
Basing of an Inshore Patrol Vessel at the Southern Group of Islands will enhance the capabilities of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) in maintaining Surveillance over two major Sea Lines of Control (SLOCs) i.e. 10 Degree Channel in the North and 6 Degree Channel in the South.