India has commissioned its first indigenous pollution control vessel (PCV).
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh officially commissioned the ICGS Samudra Pratap at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). As India’s first indigenously designed and built PCV, the ship represents a major milestone in the nation’s push for self-reliance.
Constructed with over 60% indigenous content, the 114.5-meter vessel is the largest in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) fleet, designed to handle complex maritime challenges ranging from oil spill recovery to long-range surveillance.
Environmental & security capabilities:
The vessel is purpose-built for marine environmental protection, featuring state-of-the-art systems such as side-sweeping arms, high-capacity skimmers, and an onboard pollution control laboratory for real-time analysis. Beyond environmental duties, the ship is a multi-role platform equipped with a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and advanced firefighting systems (Fi-Fi Class 2). Its integration of dynamic positioning (DP-1) technology ensures high precision during critical recovery operations even in rough sea conditions.
Inclusion and sustainability:
In a significant step for gender parity, the Samudra Pratap has been commissioned with two women officers appointed to its frontline crew. The move aligns with the government’s vision of a more inclusive and gender-neutral defense force. The ship will be based in Kochi, operating under the Coast Guard Region (West) to protect the sensitive marine biodiversity of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Thought leadership:
“The commissioning of ICGS Samudra Pratap is noteworthy for numerous reasons, including the fact that it adds strength to our vision of self-reliance, boosts our security apparatus, and reflects a commitment to sustainability,” said Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
“Marine environment protection is not just a strategic necessity but a moral responsibility. We believe that marine resources are not the property of any one country but a shared heritage of humanity,” said the defense minister.
