The Indian Coast Guard ships Shaunak and Rajshree are visiting Yangon from January 14-18, 2018 on a goodwill visit, Mizzima News has reported.
Major activities during their stay at Yangon include courtesy calls, interaction with personnel from the Myanmar Navy, visits to places of interest and friendly sports, according to a press release.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Shaunak, the fourth ship in the series of six Off-shore Patrol Vessels (OPV), was commissioned in Goa on February 21 last year.
The commissioning of ICGS Shaunak has enhanced the Indian Coast Guard’s operational capability to discharge multifarious maritime tasks. The induction of a sophisticated OPV would give fillip to the maritime protection of country’s vast coastline of eastern seaboard in general and Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in particular. Presently, the Indian Coast Guard has a fleet of 127 vessels and another 85 at various stages of construction at different shipyards.
The 105 meters OPV was designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd and was fitted with navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machineries. The features include 30 mm CRN 91 naval gun, integrated bridge system (IBS), integrated machinery control system (IMCS), power management system (PMS) and high power external fire fighting system.
The ship is designed to carry a twin engine light helicopter and five high speed boats including two quick reaction inflatable boats for swift boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Rajshree has been built by the Kolkata-based DPSU (Defence Public Sector Unit) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. The ship was commissioned in Kolkata on January 15, 2012.
The 50-meter long indigenous IPV displaces 300 tonnes and can achieve a maximum speed of 34 knots, with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed of 16 knots. Equipped with 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 (IBMS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS) and an integrated gun mount with indigenous Fire Control system (FCS).
