Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel commissioned in Goa

Panaji Feb 21 (IANS) Union Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday commissioned Indian Coast Guard ship Shaunak built by Goa Shipyard Limited in the port town of Vasco near here.

Shaunak an offshore patrol vessel is designed to carry one twin-engine light helicopter five high-speed boats and for carrying out swift boarding operations search and rescue law enforcement and maritime patrol.

The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment to contain oil spill at sea. The ship on joining Coast Guard Fleet will be based at Visakhapatnam and deployed extensively for Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance and other duties Prabhu said while commissioning the vessel in the port town of Vasco located 40 km from Panaji.

Shaunak will be manned by 14 officers and 98 sailors and will function under the administrative and operational command of the Coast Guard region (East).

--IANS
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