Mangaluru :

ICGS Vikram, the first in the class of seven new generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) contracted by the ministry of defence (MoD) in March 2015 under the government’s initiative of ‘Make in India’ arrived at its base port — the New Mangalore Port, on Sunday.

The 98.2metre long and 15metre wide vessel has been designed and built indigenously by Larsen and Toubro.

Subash Bhamre, union minister of state for defence, had commissioned the ship in Chennai on April 11.

ICGS Vikram has a 3.6metre draught, 2,140 tonnes displacement and a range of 5,000 nautical miles. It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots. The ship has been fitted with state-of-the art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. It also features a 30mm gun and a 12.7mm gun with fire control system giving an edge to its fighting efficiency. The ship is also designed to carry a twin engine light helicopter and a twin engine heavy helicopter with night flying capabilities. It is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill contamination at sea. It can stay at sea for 20 days without any replenishment.

The ship with 14 officers and 88 men is commanded by Commandant Raj Kamal Sinha.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> City News> Mangalore News / TNN / May 14th, 2018