New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), which is planning to expand its fleet with modern, state-of-the-art platforms, organised a one-day conference themed “Extending Capability for Distant Horizons” at Coast Guard headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.

The conference, inaugurated by Paramesh Sivamani, ICG Director General, brought together leading Indian shipyards and design houses to deliberate upon the future platforms.

Representatives from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), L&T Shipbuilding, TAI Engineers, SeaTech Solutions, Conceptia and SEDS, along with ICG’s naval architects and technical officers, shared their expertise and perspectives towards development of quantifiable request for proposal for future special-role and multi-role platforms.

At the moment, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) is building six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the ICG. These will be large ships with endurance of 5,000 nautical miles.

This will not only enable the force to reach out further, but allow these platforms to remain at sea for longer periods of time and carry out sustained operations.

These ships will be capable of achieving a maximum speed of 23 knots. Measuring 117 metres in length and having a strength of 11 officers and 110 men, they will also feature state-of-the-art machinery and advanced technological systems, including AI-based predictive maintenance systems, remotely-piloted drones, Integrated Bridge System, and Integrated Platform Management System.

The ICG has also started receiving modern Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) or hovercrafts to replace its existing, ageing fleet.

These hovercrafts are essential for operations in shallow waters closer to shore. They can also operate over marshy land and sandbars. The new ACVs have a high indigenous content.

The day’s conference was important as the focus is on the country’s Atmanirbharta.

All platforms of the Navy and ICG will henceforth by built by Indian shipyards.

“The conference served as a collaborative platform to deliberate on developing quantifiable and future-ready technical specifications for upcoming Indian Coast Guard shipbuilding projects, enabling the transition from broad qualitative requirements to measurable capability parameters. Discussions focused on emerging operational challenges, advanced ship design philosophies, digital validation, adoption of modern technologies and enhancing the operational effectiveness of future multi-role Coast Guard vessels,” an official said.

The Coast Guard vessels of the future, though not heavily armed, would have to be highly technologically advanced to counter modern-day threats and carry out day-to-day operations more effectively.

“The conference reaffirmed the Indian Coast Guard’s commitment towards fostering close collaboration with the Indian shipbuilding industry, promoting indigenous capability development and building technologically advanced, resilient and future-ready maritime platforms to effectively address evolving maritime security challenges,” the official added.

–IANS

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