by Rajtilak Naik - Daijiworld News Network Goa
Panaji, Oct 28: Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Savitribai Phule was today commissioned by the Director General of Indian Coast Guard VADM. R.F Contractor, AVSM, NW in a special ceremony held at the Goa Shipyard Limited construction area in Vasco.
ICGS Savitribai Phule is the in the series of Extra Fast Patrol Vessel designed by the Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Coast Guard. The ship is named after a great social reformer and a leader who fought her heart out for the liberation and education of women in India.
About Savitribai Phule.
Savitribai Phule was born on 3rd January 1831 at Naingaon in Maharashtra. With the help of her husband Jyotirao Phule she laid the foundation stone for girls education in India and fought the social evil of Untouchability. Along with her institution, which provided free education for girls, she also ran an orphanage which was providing shelter to the orphans and widows. She was the chairperson of 'Satya Shodhak Samaj' in 1883. Savitribai Phule devoted her entire life in bringing joy and enlightment to the people living in sheer darkness and misery.
Features of the Ship
The ship displaces 256 tons with its 50.44 meter's length. The ship holds a speed capacity of 35 knots with a additional endurance of 1500 nautical miles at economical speed.
The ship is powered with MTU engines which are capable of producing 3650 Horse Power coupled with advanced 'KAMEVA' jet propulsion system.
Like any other Fast Patrol Vessel, the ship is very well fitted with advanced navigational and communication equipments like the Raytheon RADAR, DGPS, Inmarsat Fleet 77, GMDSS Console, Machinery Control System MCS-5, FM-200 Fire Control System AND Electronic Chart display and Information System (ECDIS).
The Ship will hold 5 Officers and 32 enrolled personnel.
ICGS Savitribai Phule will be commanded by Commandant Donny Michael and will be based at New Mangalore under the command of Commander Coast Guard Region West.
Additional inputs from Daijiworld's special correspondent in Panaji:
The Indian Coast Guard has worked out extensive modernization plan of its fleet which includes induction of two off shore patrol vessels, eleven interceptors and three pollution control vessel, stated director general coast guard, vice admiral R F contractor.
Talking to reporters after commissioning, ICGS Savitribai Phule, an extra fast patrol vessel, Vice admiral Contractor said that six medium range patrol aircrafts would also be inducted in the fleet for surveillance of exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Contractor termed coast guard as a lean and versatile fleet force considering the manpower. “Government recently has sanctioned manpower as a part of modernization,” he said.
Speaking about proposed hotline between India and Pakistan, Contractor said that the process to set up the hotline is on. “we are waiting for response from our counterparts,” he said.
Indian coast guard has planned a hotline with its Pakistani counterpart to ensure speedy communication. When questioned whether rough diplomatic relations between both the countries has affected the process of hotline, the DG reacted negatively. “We are waiting…,” he quipped.
Over exclusive economic zone issue, Contractor said that once constitutional shelf is delineated, our EEZ will also increase and we have given perspective plan 2007-2022, which is a futuristic plan, to the government, which will take care of delineated continental shelf.
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