ICGS Annie Besant gets a warm welcome in Chennai

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Chennai harbour was the centre of attraction on 27 January when Indian Coast Guard Ship Annie Besant (ICGS Annie Besant) received a warm welcome amidst thunderous applauds from Commander of Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 5(TN), senior officers and families of the Indian Coast Guard.

The ship has been named in the honour of Annie Besant. ICGS Annie Besant is the third Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) of Priyadarshini class and was Commissioned by Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary, Government of India at Khidderpore Dock, Kolkata on 12 January 2020.

The ship has been indigenously designed and built. It is placed under the administrative and operational control of the Commander Coast Guard Region (East).

ICGS Annie Besant is 48.9 m long and has a beam of 7.5 m with a displacement of 308 tonnes. The ship is fitted with the state-of-the-art navigational and communication equipment, sensors.

It has an Integrated Bridge Management System.  The ship’s main armament is 40/60 Bofors gun with a 12.7 mm Stabilised Remote Control Gun (SRCG) fitted to enhance the fighting efficiency.

The ship carries one Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and one Gemini boat each. The ship is capable of undertaking multi-faceted maritime operations such as surveillance, search and rescue and interdiction. The ship has a complement of five officers and 34 men and is commanded by Commandant (JG) Sunny Deo.