Kolkata, June 30 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) bid farewell to one of its oldest Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) — also known as hovercrafts — at Haldia in West Bengal on Tuesday, officials said.

H-186 was commissioned on March 21, 2002, and has participated in several Search and Rescue (SAR) missions during its 24 years in service.

The ACV will be put up on display at a museum in New Town at Kolkata that also houses a decommissioned Tu-142M aircraft of the Indian Navy.

The hovercraft will be accessible to visitors at the museum as part of the ICGs Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The solemn ceremony at 88 ACV Squadron at Coast Guard Headquarters No 8 in Haldia, was attended by Iqbal Singh Chauhan, Inspector General and Commander of Coast Guard Region (North East), alongside distinguished civil dignitaries, senior ICG officers, and key stakeholders from the maritime community.

“With its agility and unique amphibious capabilities, H-186 provided a stable and capable platform for a wide range of missions, ranging from coastal surveillance to anti-smuggling operations,” the ICG said in a statement.

“H-186 consistently demonstrated exceptional Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities during critical operations. Its notable achievements include a large-scale SAR mission on January 16, 2023, where it successfully rescued 511 pilgrims under challenging conditions. 0n January 16, 2024, it rescued 182 pilgrims, ensuring their safe evacuation. H-186 also conducted a search operation at Bakkhali Beach on August 11, 2024, recovering the bodies of two individuals. The craft was deservingly awarded ‘Best SAR Unit’ for the year 2004 and again for saving 78 lives in the year 2006,” the statement said.

The force also acknowledged the unwavering dedication and professionalism of the officers and crew who have served on board H-186 throughout its service life.

The ICG began indicting ACVs after it realised that its other platforms were not capable of carrying out operations in shallow waters off the West Bengal and Gujarat coasts.

An ACV can move across shallow stretches and even sandbanks, extending the force’s capabilities.

As its fleet of hovercrafts get old, ICG has started inducting a new series of indigenous ACVs towards its commitment for maintaining a robust coastal security architecture, leveraging modernised assets and technology to meet evolving challenges.

–IANS

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