New Delhi. Indian Coast Guard Ship Kamla Devi, the fifth in series of five Fast Patrol Vessel was commissioned at Kolkata on January 12 by Director General VS Pathania, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard. The occasion was graced by various military and civil dignitaries of the Central and State Government.
Indian Coast Guard Ship Kamla Devi has been named in honour of Ms Kamladevi Chattopadhyay, an esteemed Indian social reformer and freedom activist. She is always remembered for her contribution towards Indian Independence movement for being the driving force behind the renaissance of Indian Handicrafts &handlooms. She is the first lady in India to stand in elections from Madras Constituency that pioneered the path for the women in India.
In 1974, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship, the highest honour conferred by the Sangeet Natak Academy, India’s national Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. She was conferred with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by Government of India in 1955 and 1987 respectively. She is known as Hatkargha Maa for her works in handloom sector.
ICGS Kamla Devi is 48.9 Meters long & 7.5 Meters wide with a displacement of 308 Tons. The ship is capable of achieving maximum speed of 34 Knots, powered with MTU 4000 Series Engines and propelled by three 71S type III Kamewa waterjet of Rolls Royce. The ship is built indigenously by M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata.
The ship is capable of undertaking multi-faceted tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, Search & Rescue and Medical Evacuation. The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art technology, navigation & communication equipment, sensors and machinery. The ship is also equipped with 30 mm 2A42 Medak gun and 12.7 mm SRCG (Stabilized Remote Controlled Gun) for enhancing the fighting efficiency of the ship. The ship has one RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) and one Gemini Boat each for swift boarding and Search & Rescue operations.
The ship has complement of 5 Officers and 33 men. ICGS Kamla Devi is commanded by Commandant (JG) Sharan P.
The ship will be based at Haldia under the administrative control of Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 8 (West Bengal) and operational control of Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East).
