OPV Sarthak | 14 Aug 2020

Recently, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was launched and named as Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sarthak’.

OPV Sarthak is the 4^th in the series of the indigenous project for 05 OPVs.
OPVs are long-range surface ships capable of coastal and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations with limited wartime roles.

Development: OPV Sarthak has been designed & built indigenously by M/s Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in line with the government’s vision of ‘Make in India’.
- It has about 70% indigenous content, thus providing the necessary fillip to the Indian shipbuilding industry and a giant leap towards achieving ‘Atmanirbar Bharat’.
Features:
- The Ship is fitted with state-of-the-art Navigation and Communication equipment, sensor and machinery.
- It is designed to embark and carry a twin-engine helicopter, four high speed boats and one inflatable boat for swift boarding and Search & Rescue operations.
- It is also capable of carrying limited pollution response equipment to undertake oil spill pollution response at sea.
Use:
- The ship will be deployed extensively for Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, Coastal Security and other duties as enshrined in the Coast Guard charter of duties, to safeguard the maritime interests of the Nation.

The Indian Coast Guard was formally inaugurated on 19^th August, 1978. It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
The organization is headed by the Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) exercising his overall command and superintendence from the Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ) located at New Delhi.
For effective command and control, the Maritime Zones of India are divided into five Coast Guard Regions, namely, North-West, West, East, North-East and Andaman & Nicobar, with the respective Regional Headquarters located at Gandhinagar, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Port Blair.
Further, it keeps an eye on the Indian exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
ICG has been a pioneer in inducting indigenous assets which has enabled it to remain operationally available throughout the year.
- The mere presence of ICG units at sea serves dual objectives of “Deterrence” and “Reassurance”.
- It deters people with ill-intent and at the same time reassures the maritime community, as they are aware that ICG will swiftly respond to any distress call or life-threatening situation at sea.
The deterrence created by the ICG is not limited to the Indian waters, but collaboration with friendly littoral states as per provisions of bilateral cooperation agreements resulted in successful apprehension and seizure of drugs in Indian Ocean Region (IOR).