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Goa Shipyard Limited, a defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, handed over the indigenously designed and built Fast Patrol Vessel ICGS Ajit to the Indian Coast Guard on 25 August 2026.
ICGS Ajit is an Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel, 51.43 metres long and 8 metres wide, with a displacement of 330 tonnes.
It is powered by twin marine diesel engines driving controllable pitch propellers - a first for this class of Fast Patrol Vessel - and reaches a top speed of more than 27 knots with an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles.
The vessel was built with more than 65 per cent indigenous content and will be operated by a crew of six officers and 35 sailors.
It is designed for multi-mission roles: Exclusive Economic Zone surveillance, coastal patrol, fisheries protection, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy and search and rescue, particularly around India's island territories.
On a conventional fixed-pitch propeller, the blade angle is set at manufacture, so the only way to change thrust is to change engine speed. A controllable pitch propeller can rotate its blades about their own axes while running, which decouples thrust from engine revolutions: the engine can hold an efficient speed while the ship changes pace, reverses thrust without reversing the shaft, and manoeuvres precisely at low speed. For a patrol vessel that spends long hours loitering on surveillance and then must sprint to intercept, that combination of fuel efficiency at patrol speed and rapid response is exactly the operating profile it needs, which is why the fitment is described as a first-of-its-kind feature in this class of Fast Patrol Vessel.
Simple Analogy: A fixed-pitch propeller is a bicycle with one gear - you change speed only by pedalling harder. A controllable pitch propeller is a bicycle with gears, so you can pedal at a comfortable rate whatever the road demands.
An armed force of the Union responsible for maritime law enforcement, protection of India's maritime interests and the Exclusive Economic Zone, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations, marine environment protection and search and rescue. Its motto is Vayam Rakshamah - We Protect
A defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence that designs and builds patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, including the Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels
The Indian Coast Guard is constituted as an armed force of the Union under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, functioning under the Ministry of Defence.
Goa Shipyard Limited launches two Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels, ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit.
GSL formally hands over ICGS Ajit (Yard 1277) to the Indian Coast Guard, with more than 65 per cent indigenous content.
GS Paper 3 > Security: Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate; Indigenisation of Technology
General Awareness > Indian Coast Guard, Ships and Shipyards
General Awareness > Defence Current Affairs
General Awareness > Current Affairs
A small, fast, lightly armed vessel used for coastal patrol, interdiction and search and rescue rather than fleet combat.
A propeller whose blade angle can be changed while running, allowing thrust to be varied without changing engine speed.
The maritime zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, within which a coastal state has sovereign rights over resources; policing it is a core Coast Guard task.
The motto of the Indian Coast Guard, meaning 'We Protect'.