Muscat: The Indian Coast Guard’s first pollution control vessel — Samudra Prahari — arrived in Oman on Thursday for a four-day friendly visit, according to a press release issued by the mission on Wednesday evening.
During the visit, Indian Coast Guard personnel will exchange visits with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Coast Guard and have discussions on ways to increase mutual cooperation. The commanding officer will also call on senior dignitaries from the ROP Coast Guard, according to the press release.
ICGS Samudra Prahari is the first pollution control vessel not only of Indian Coast Guard but also in the entire region, the release claimed.
The 95-metre-long ship has been indigenously built by ABG shipyard, Surat and was commissioned in October 2010. It is equipped with state of the art pollution response and control equipment that include containment equipment like Hi sprint booms and river booms, recovery devices like skimmers and side sweeping arms and storage devices like Oil Recovery Operation (ORO) tanks and inflatable barges.
The ship is capable of unhindered oil recovery operations with storage capability of 502 KL.
The special features include an Integrated Platform Management System, Power Management System, High Power External Fire Fighting System and one indigenous CRN 91 Gun mount along with fire control system. The ship is designed to carry one twin engine ALH/Chetak helicopter, five high speed boats and four water scooters for SAR, Maritime law enforcement, EEZ surveillance and high speed interdictions.
In the two years since commissioning, the ship has remained 5,626 hours at sea traversing 5,66 nautical miles.
