‘Rajratan’ arrives at Porbandar to guard Gujarat coast

Porbandar, 22 March 2013

Indian Coast Guard has based Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Rajratan’ at Porbandar under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North West) to augment the force levels required for continuous vigil along the Gujarat maritime frontiers and to protect nation’s maritime interests.

Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Rajratan’, the fifth of a series of eight Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) indigenously built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, the 50M long IPV displaces 300 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 Knots, with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at an economical speed of 16 Knots. Equipped with the state-of-the-art weaponry and advanced communication and navigational equipment, it makes an ideal platform for undertaking multifarious close-coast missions such as Surveillance, Interdiction, Search and Rescue, and Medical evacuation. The special features of the ship include an Integrated Bridge Management System (IMBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) and an integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control system (FCS).

The ship was commissioned by Director General Indian Coast Guard, Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan at Kolkata. The ship is commanded by Commandant (JG) CS Joshi, and has a complement of five Officers and 30 other ranks.

The ship arrived Porbandar on 21 Mar 2013 and was welcomed to the Gujarat area by DIG NK Kaul, Commander Coast Guard District HQ, Porbandar as per the Maritime traditions and customs.