Further Reading

Jija Bai inshore patrol vessel

The inshore patrol vessel, 'Ranijindan' was built for Indian Coast Guard at Sumidgawa Shipyard Company Ltd, Tokyo, Japan whereas 'Habbah Khatun' and 'Avvaiyyar' were received in complete knocked-down condition from Japan. They were indigenously assembled at Garden Reach Shipyard Limited, Kolkata. ICGS 'Avvaiyyar' was commissioned on October 19, 1985. The ship was named after the famous Tamil poetess of the 11th century. During her life-span, the ship brought laurels to Coast Guard by her numerous achievements at sea while carrying out various CG missions of search and rescue along with anti-poaching and security patrols. The ship also carried out repatriation of vessels to the neighboring nations and played an important role during IPKF operations in Sri Lanka.

ICGS 'Habbah Khatun' was named after the famous Kashmiri poetess who was the contemporary of Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. The ship was commissioned at Chennai on April 27, 1985. The ship saved 346 valuable lives and apprehended a number of foreign vessels involved in poaching besides playing an important role in securing the eastern seaboard of the nation.

ICGS 'Ranijindan' was named after the empress of Punjab and wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The ship was formally commissioned into the active service of Indian Coast Guard on October 21, 1983. The ship holds the credit of saving 24 lives, apprehension of 17 foreign vessels, repatriation of 27 foreign fishing vessels and seizure of a huge quantity of smuggled goods. The ship played a key role during IPKF operations.

In a glittering ceremony held 07 January 2012 at Chennai port, three Indian Coast Guard ships - 'Avvaiyyar', 'Habbah Khatun' and 'Ranijindan' - were decommissioned with full military honours in the presence of Inspector General SP Sharma PT, Commander Coast Guard Region East and various civil and military dignitaries. The ceremony commenced with an impressive guard of honour and culminated with the hauling down of Coast Guard ensigns for the last time at sunset. With this ceremony, these three ships entered into the history of Coast Guard. For the present and previous crew, it was an emotional moment when the ships' commissioning pennants were lowered with buglers playing 'last post'. These ships had flown the Tricolour and the Coast Guard ensign with pride and honour during the illustrious 27 years of commission.

The officers and sailors who had served at different times onboard these ships were present at the venue to bid a fond farewell to these ships. Towards the end of the formal ceremony, the Commanding Officers, Commandant V Krishna Kumar of ICGS 'Avvaiyyar', Commandant (JG) Jeethu I Jose of ICGS 'Habbah Khatun' and Lt Cdr VK of ICGS 'Ranijindan' presented the final decommissioning report to the Coast Guard Commander (East).

The Commander Coast Guard Region (East), while addressing the crew, highlighted the contributions made by these vessels in ensuring maritime and coastal security on the east coast of India, especially along Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coast. He also appraised the guests of the Coast Guard capacity-building programme under which the eastern region is in the process of activating new stations and new air station besides inducting more ships and aircraft in the next couple of years. He informed that these new assets would definitely give a boost to the capability of Coast Guard on the eastern front.