By A Correspondent

New Delhi: In a major boost to India’s maritime security and environmental protection architecture, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on January 5, 2026, commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Pratap, the country’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel, at Goa.

Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with over 60% indigenous content, the vessel marks a significant milestone in India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) push in defence shipbuilding and reinforces the Coast Guard’s role as a responsible maritime force in the Indo-Pacific.

The largest ship in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) fleet to date, Samudra Pratap, will substantially enhance India’s capabilities in marine pollution response, firefighting, maritime safety, and environmental protection.

The vessel is designed for long-duration surveillance and rapid response missions across India’s vast maritime zones, strengthening preparedness amid rising maritime traffic, climate-linked risks, and complex security challenges.

Commissioning the ship, Rajnath Singh described Samudra Pratap as a symbol of India’s mature defence industrial ecosystem, capable of handling complex manufacturing challenges.

He underlined the government’s objective to raise indigenous content in warships and patrol vessels to nearly 90% in the coming years, calling self-reliance the “new normal” in India’s defence production philosophy.

While pollution control is the ship’s primary role, the Defence Minister emphasised that Samudra Pratap is a multi-mission platform.

“With multiple capabilities integrated into a single platform, the ship will also be effective in coastal patrol and maritime safety operations,” he said, noting that GSL’s modern shipbuilding approach has enhanced flexibility and operational readiness to address contemporary maritime threats.

Equipped with advanced pollution detection systems, dedicated pollution response boats, and high-end firefighting equipment, the ship can respond swiftly to oil spills, chemical discharges, and maritime accidents.

Its helicopter hangar and aviation support facilities significantly extend its surveillance reach and operational effectiveness, even in rough sea conditions. According to Rajnath Singh, these features provide a decisive advantage during real-life emergency operations.

Highlighting the Indian Coast Guard’s expanding mandate, the Defence Minister praised the force’s multidimensional role: from oil spill response and coastal cleanliness to search and rescue and maritime law enforcement.

He asserted that the ICG’s growing strength sends a clear deterrent message to adversaries attempting misadventures along India’s maritime frontiers.

Singh also framed marine environmental protection as both a strategic necessity and a moral responsibility, particularly in the context of climate change and global warming.

He noted that India now belongs to a select group of nations with advanced marine environmental response capabilities, capable of conducting complex oil spill containment, firefighting, and salvage operations.

“A clean sea ensures safe trade, safe lives, and a safe environment,” he said, linking the commissioning of Samudra Pratap to India’s broader Grand Maritime Vision and Blue Economy goals.

On the global stage, the Defence Minister reiterated that India consistently works to safeguard not only its own maritime interests but also peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific, reinforcing its credentials as a Responsible Maritime Power.

He stressed that the Coast Guard must evolve from a largely reactionary force into a proactive, intelligence-driven, and integration-centric organisation, supported by modern platforms, advanced technology, and specialised career streams in areas such as maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and maritime cyber security.

A notable feature of Samudra Pratap is its inclusive crew composition. For the first time, the ship will have two women officers, reflecting the ICG’s rapid transition towards a gender-neutral and inclusive work environment.

Singh termed this a matter of pride, noting that women officers are now being deployed as pilots, observers, air traffic controllers, logistics and law officers, and are increasingly serving in frontline roles.

The Defence Minister also lauded the Coast Guard’s contribution to the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, pointing out that the manufacturing, servicing, and repair of Coast Guard ships and aircraft are now largely undertaken within the country, an achievement that strengthens strategic autonomy and domestic industrial capacity.

Senior officials present at the commissioning included Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani, and GSL Chairman and Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay.

Named Samudra Pratap, meaning ‘Majesty of the Seas’, the vessel underscores the Coast Guard’s commitment to secure, safe, and clean seas.

The ship has a displacement of 4,170 tonnes, a length of 114.5 metres, and a top speed exceeding 22 knots. Powered by two 7,500 kW diesel engines with indigenously developed controllable pitch propellers, it offers superior manoeuvrability and an endurance of 6,000 nautical miles.

Its advanced equipment suite includes side-sweeping arms, floating booms, high-capacity skimmers, portable barges, a pollution control laboratory, and an External Fire-Fighting System (Fi-Fi Class 1).

The vessel is also fitted with modern automation systems such as Dynamic Positioning, Integrated Bridge and Platform Management Systems, and Automated Power Management.

Armed with a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns, Samudra Pratap balances humanitarian, environmental, and security roles.

The ship will be based at Kochi under the operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (West), further strengthening India’s maritime response capability along the western seaboard.

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