Offshore Patrol Vessel - VIKRAM Class [1983]

Great care is required with this class of ships, most units of which were decommissioned in the 2012-2019 timeframe. With nearly equal rapidity they were replaced with a new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels, also the Vikram class, which apparently replicates both the names and hull numbers of the earlier class. Possibly reflecting the strength of Hindu belief in reincarnation, this can only cause mischief in discussion of maritime affairs. The whole point of names and numbers is to clearly indicate the vessel in question, and only an intimate knowledge of ship chronologies, or a close attention to identification features [the older vessels had more prominent funnels] can prevent hopeless confusion.

Indian Coast Guard Vikram-class offshore patrol vessels were jointly built by Mazagon Dock Limited Mumbai and Goa Shipyard Limited, Vasco da Gama, Goa. The vessels in this class were 74 meter (243 ft) long with a beam of 11.4 metres (37 ft) and were armed with a Mantra Defense Lynx optronic-directed 40mm 60 cal Bofors Mk3 AA gun or dual 30mm CRN 91 Naval Gun. They were powered by two SEMT-Pielstick 16 PA6 V280 diesel engines driving two propellers. They were equipped with pollution control equipment, two firefighting monitors, a four-tonne crane. They also carry diving equipment, two RIB inspection craft and a hangar for a light helicopter. The Vikram-class vessels had an air-conditioned accommodation for a crew of 11 officers and 85 enlisted sailors.

A derivative of this class was been exported to Mauritius as the MCGS Barracuda. Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varaha was transferred on lease to Sri Lankan Navy in April, 2006. The lease was extended from time to time. On the request of Sri Lankan side, the ship was gifted to Government of Sri Lanka on a permanent basis in August 2015 as a goodwill gesture in line with our commitment to enhance bilateral defence cooperation. No representation opposing the Government decision for gifting ICGS Varaha to Sri Lanka has been received in the Ministry.

As the sun disappeared over the horizon April 28, 2017, a glorious era of Indian Coast Guard Ship Varad came to an end. The ship was decommissioned in a traditional naval ceremony that was held at Chennai Port. The ceremony was presided over by Inspector General Rajan Bargotra, Commander Coast Guard Region (East). The occasion was graced by various civil and military dignitaries besides previous commanding officer and crew of the vessel. ICGS Varad is the eighth ship in the series of Vikram class offshore patrol vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited. It was launched on Septmber 02, 1989 and was commissioned on July 19, 1990 by Shri Khurshid Alam Khan, the Governor of Goa, with a Pennant number 40 and international call sign VTMP. The name Varad was derived from a Sanskrit phrase 'Sahayadri Varad Hast' which means "Granting Wishes".

During the ceremony, an impressive guard of honour was paraded and with sunset the Coast Guard ensign was hauled down for the last time. Soon after 'Decommissioning Pennant' which is equal to the length of the ship was lowered. The Commanding Officer of the Ship Commandant Anwar Khan, Commanded the ceremonial parade and made the final decommissioning report to the Commander Coast Guard Region (East). The Commander Coast Guard Region (East), while addressing the crew and guests present in the ceremony, highlighted the operations and contributions made by the vessel and commended the ship and all her crew for the yeoman service they have put in for last 27 years for the organization.

After 29 glorious years of service, Indian Coast Guard ship Vigraha was decommissioned at CG Jetty, Visakhapatnam in an impressive ceremony on May 15, 2019 with complete service tradition. It was a somber moment for Indian Coast Guard as ICGS Vigraha was decommissioned with full military honours at sunset. IG S Paramesh, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East) was the Chief Guest for the ceremony, senior retired CG/ IN Officers, senior defence officials and civil dignitaries also graced the occasion.

The ceremony commenced with an impressive Guard of honour and culminated with hauling down of the Coast Guard ensign from the ship for the last time at sunset. The ship entered into the archives of Indian Coast Guard with the ceremony.

ICGS Vigraha, the symbolic representation of the able minded warrior in the battle field, was commissioned on April 12, 1990. It was the seventh Offshore Patrol Vessel built by Mazagaon Dock Ltd, Mumbai and the first of its class among OPVs of third series. The ship was also on dry lease to Sri Lankan Navy from August 11, 2008 to January 22, 2011 and was re-inducted into ICG service at Kochi on January 23, 2011. Post re-induction the ship was re-based at Visakhapatnam on March 15, 2011.

ICGS Vigraha was in service for close to three decades and during the period, the ship participated in various Coast Guard operations such as Search & Rescue, anti-poaching, pollution response, flood relief, repatriation and joint exercises with other services. The ship while in service played a pivotal role in execution of assigned missions in the seafronts of Coast Guard Regions West, North West and East when she was based at Mumbai, Porbandar and Visakhapatnam respectively.

Pennant	Name	Builder	Homeport	Launch	commission	Decommission	Status
33	Vikram	Mazagon Dock	Vishakapatanam	29 Sep 1981	26 Dec 1983	19 Jan 2012
34	Vijaya	Mazagon Dock	Porbandar		12 Apr 1985	23 Jan 2012
35	Veera	Mazagon Dock	Tuticorin	30 Jun 1984	3 May 1986	20 May 2013
36	Varuna	Mazagon Dock	Kochi	01 Feb 1984	27 Feb 1988	23 Aug 2017	Transferred to SLCG as SLCGS Suraksha
37	Vajra	Mazagon Dock	Paradip	31 Jan 1987	22 Dec 1988	21 Feb 2018
38	Vivek	Mazagon Dock	Visakhapatnam	05 Nov 1987	19 Aug 1989	23 Mar 2010	Sank
39	Vigraha	Mazagon Dock	Paradip	01 Dec 1988	12 Apr 1990	16 May 2019
40	Varad	Goa Shipyard	Port Blair	02 Sep 1989	19 Jul 1990	29 April 2017
41	Varaha	Goa Shipyard	Chennai		11 Mar 1992	Aug 2015	Transferred to Sri Lanka

Builders	Mazagon Dock Limited and Goa Shipyard Limited
Operators	Indian Coast Guard Sri Lanka Navy Sri Lanka Coast Guard
Succeeded by	Samar class
Completed	9
Active	0
Lost	1
Retired	8
Displacement	1180 tonnes
Length	74.10 m (243.1 ft)
Beam	11.4 m (37 ft)
Draught	3.2 m (10 ft)
Installed power	2 x SEMT-Pielstick 16 PA6 V280 diesel engines (4707KW each)
Propulsion	2 x propellers 12800 bhp
Speed	22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Sensors	BEL make - 1 x Decca 1226 nav radar BEL make - 1 x Decca 1230 nav radar
Armament	1 x 30mm 2A42 2 x 12.7mm MG
Aircraft carried	1 x HAL Chetak
Complement	10 officers and 98 sailors