Goa Shipyard hands over Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit to Coast Guard
New Delhi, Aug 26. Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has handed over ICGS Ajit, a 51.43-metre Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), to the Indian Coast Guard, marking another step towards strengthening indigenous defence shipbuilding capabilities.
The vessel, designated Yard 1277, was formally handed over on August 25 following its First Reading Ceremony in the presence of senior officials from GSL and the Indian Coast Guard. The ceremony was attended by GSL Chairman and Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Director (Operations) Rear Admiral Nelson D’Souza and other senior officials, along with the vessel’s Commanding Officer, Commandant (JG) Manish Talan.
Built with more than 65 percent indigenous content, ICGS Ajit reflects the growing capacity of India’s domestic shipbuilding sector and the government’s push for greater self-reliance in defence production.
The 330-tonne vessel is 51.43 metres long and eight metres wide, with a draught of 2.5 metres. It is powered by twin marine diesel engines coupled with controllable pitch propellers, a feature described as a first for an FPV of this class. The propulsion system is expected to improve efficiency and enhance the vessel’s operational performance.
ICGS Ajit can achieve a top speed of over 27 knots and has an endurance of about 1,500 nautical miles. It is also equipped with an integrated machinery control system designed to improve operational readiness, efficiency and sustainability.
The vessel will be operated by a crew comprising six officers and 35 sailors and is designed for a range of maritime security and law-enforcement tasks. These include fisheries protection, surveillance of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, coastal patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations, as well as search and rescue missions.
The induction of ICGS Ajit is expected to bolster the Coast Guard’s ability to monitor and secure India’s coastal and offshore waters and strengthen the country’s broader maritime security framework.
The handover also highlights GSL’s role in expanding indigenous shipbuilding capacity and developing advanced platforms for India’s armed forces. The shipyard said its continued focus on technology, innovation and indigenisation would support the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) initiatives, as well as India’s ambition to emerge as a global shipbuilding hub.
