Indian Coast Guard commissions ICGS Ajit to boost surveillance off Gujarat coast

Goa: The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Ajit, an indigenously built fast patrol vessel, at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) recently, strengthening maritime surveillance along Gujarat’s coast. Dr Sirish Choudhary, Principal Integrated Financial Adviser to the Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony.

The vessel, designated Yard 1277, was handed over to the Coast Guard on August 25. It will be based at Okha in Gujarat and deployed for coastal patrols, surveillance, search and rescue, anti-smuggling operations, fisheries protection and marine pollution response.

Measuring 51.43 metres and displacing 330 tonnes, ICGS Ajit is powered by twin marine diesel engines with controllable-pitch propellers. According to GSL, this propulsion system is a first for this class of fast patrol vessel in India.

The ship can achieve speeds exceeding 27 knots and has an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles. It features more than 65% indigenous content and can accommodate six officers and 35 sailors.

ICGS Ajit is the fifth vessel in an eight-ship Adamya-class fast patrol vessel programme being built by GSL under a ₹473-crore contract signed by the Ministry of Defence on March 28, 2022. The vessels are being constructed under dual-class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and the Indian Register of Shipping.

The series includes Adamya, inducted in June 2025; Akshar, commissioned in October 2025; Achal, commissioned in May 2026; and Akshay, commissioned in June 2026. Ajit’s sister vessel, Aparajit, was launched in October 2025.

The induction is expected to enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to monitor shipping lanes, protect fishing grounds and respond to maritime emergencies in the Arabian Sea.

DeshGujarat