New Delhi: In a landmark development for India’s maritime security and environmental response capabilities, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Pratap in Goa on January 5, 2026. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Samudra Pratap is India’s first indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) and the largest ship in the Coast Guard fleet to date, with over 60% indigenous content.
Designed to strengthen coastal patrol, environmental protection, and maritime safety, the ship integrates multiple capabilities, including pollution detection, firefighting, and extended surveillance, ensuring the ICG is prepared for modern maritime challenges. Raksha Mantri described the vessel as “an embodiment of India’s mature defence industrial ecosystem” and emphasised ongoing efforts to increase indigenous content to 90% in future shipbuilding projects.
Operational and Environmental Capabilities
ICGS Samudra Pratap is equipped with advanced pollution response systems, including side-sweeping arms, floating booms, high-capacity skimmers, portable barges, and an onboard pollution control laboratory. It also features a Fi-Fi Class 1 fire-fighting system, helicopter support facilities, dynamic positioning, integrated bridge systems, and automated platform management for enhanced operational efficiency. Its armament includes a 30 mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled guns, making it capable of responding to maritime threats.
With a displacement of 4,170 tons, a length of 114.5 meters, and speeds exceeding 22 knots, the vessel is powered by two 7,500 kW diesel engines with indigenously developed controllable pitch propellers and gearboxes, providing a range of 6,000 nautical miles. The ship will be stationed at Kochi under Coast Guard Region (West), enhancing operational coverage along India’s maritime boundaries.
Women Officers and Inclusive Leadership
In a first for the Indian Coast Guard, two women officers were appointed to ICGS Samudra Pratap, reflecting the ICG’s commitment to a gender-inclusive and progressive workforce. Raksha Mantri praised the growing role of women in frontline duties, including piloting, air traffic control, logistics, and hovercraft operations, calling them “role models for future generations.”
Strategic Importance
Rajnath Singh highlighted the ICG’s multi-dimensional role—from pollution control to coastal security and law enforcement—and reaffirmed India’s stance as a responsible maritime power committed to peace, stability, and environmental stewardship in the Indo-Pacific. He emphasized the importance of moving from a platform-centric force to an intelligence-driven, integration-centric organization, while developing specialized career streams in maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and maritime cyber security.
The commissioning of ICGS Samudra Pratap marks a significant step towards Aatmanirbharta in shipbuilding, boosting India’s maritime preparedness, environmental response capability, and technological self-reliance. With state-of-the-art systems, a robust indigenous design, and a focus on gender inclusivity, Samudra Pratap stands as a symbol of India’s grand maritime vision and strategic maritime strength.
Present at the commissioning were Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani, GSL CMD Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, and senior officials from central and state governments.
