Cochin Shipyard Delivers Third FPV to Indian Coast Guard

Cochin Shipyard recently delivered ‘Abhinav’, the third of the fast patrol vessels (FPV) to the Indian Coast Guard. The contract for the construction of the 20 FPVs for the Indian Coast Guard was signed in October 2010. ICGS Abhinav was delivered on January 13 2014. The first two ships were commissioned on December 13 and 31, 2013.

The FPV is a small vessel in terms of size compared to the large vessels that CSL has built, but it is very complex and extremely challenging to build. The ships with a length of 50 metres are designed to achieve speeds of 33 knots. The ship is extremely weight sensitive and CSL had to go in for weight reduction measures like making the superstructure of aluminium.

It is for the first time that Cochin Shipyard has undertaken fabrication of aluminium structures on such a scale. This was challenging but the CSL welding technologists and workers have mastered the techniques required to produce extremely high quality aluminium welds. It is a measure of the outstanding professionalism of the shipyard that weight control on this ship was exercised right through the build process and the difference between the design weight and actual weight was only about 2 tonnes, ie., a difference of less that one per cent. This has ensured that the designed speed was achieved on her very first outing at sea.

It also has a secondary role of providing communication link and escort convoys during hostilities and wartime. This ship propelled by water jets and powered by three main engines, each of capacity - 2,720 KW is built to the dual classification requirements of ABS and IRS.

Apart from the 20 FPVs for the ICG, the yard is also constructing the most prestigious warship of the nation, an indigenous aircraft carrier and two offshore support vessels for International owners.