Indian Coast Guard ship 'Vajra' commissioned to strengthen coastal security - See pics

The Indian Coast Guard ship 'Vajra', the sixth offshore patrol vessel to enhance coastal security, has been commissioned into service on Wednesday (March 24, 2021).

The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd.

The 'Vajra' is the sixth in the series of the contract awarded by the Ministry of Defence to Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd.

Aimed at enhancing coastal security, Vajra is fitted with highly sophisticated navigation and communication systems.

The ship has a 30-mm gun as main armament and fitted with two 12.7-mm SRCG (Stabilised Remote Controlled Gun) for enhanced fighting efficiency.

As per reports, some of the hi-tech features of Vajra include an integrated bridge system, high-power external fighting system, bow thruster, automated power management system among others.

The ship is reportedly designed to carry one twin-engine helicopter with night-flying capabilities and can also carry four high- speed boats, two rigid hull inflatable boats for taking up search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrolling.

A pollution response equipment to contain oil spills at sea is fitted in the ship, which is propelled by twin MTU 8000 series engines capable of achieving 26 knots of top speed and endurance of 5,000 nautical miles.

Deputy Inspector General Alex Thomas is the commanding officer of the ship, which would have 14 officers and 88 men.

The ship would be based in Tuticorin under the operational control of the Coast Guard eastern region.

At an event to mark the commissioning of the ship, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat formally unveiled a 'plaque' and the ship's name board 'Vajra' meaning 'Thunderbolt' at the Chennai Port Trust. 

"We are confident of such improvement and capabilities. The Coast Guard will be able to safeguard our coastal areas along with other agencies responsible for their assignments," Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said at the commissioning ceremony of the Coast Guard ship 'Vajra' at Chennai Port Trust.