Important Facts For Prelims
ICGS Varaha
- 26 Sep 2019
- 2 min read
Recently, the Indian Defence Minister commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varaha at the Chennai port.
- The ICGS Varaha is the fourth in the series of seven 98-m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
- The ship has been designed and built indigenously and will operate from the port of New Mangalore on the West Coast (covering Exclusive Economic Zone) up to Kanyakumari.
- It is fitted with the latest navigation and communication equipment which include the Integrated Bridge System, Automated Power Management System and indigenously built Integrated Platform Management System and Halo Traversing System.
- ICGS Varaha is capable of operating the indigenously developed advanced light helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- The ship is well equipped with high-speed boats, medical facilities, and modern surveillance systems for conducting boarding operations, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrolling.
- This ship will enhance the ICG's strength in responding to the threats of maritime terrorism, smuggling, and challenges of maritime enforcement.
Indian Coast Guard
- It was established on 18th August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India as an independent Armed force of India.
- It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
- Headquarter: New Delhi.
- It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India including contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
- It is responsible for marine environment protection in maritime zones of India and is coordinating authority for response to oil spills in Indian waters.
