Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally commissioned the Indian Coast Guard's first indigenously designed and built Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), Samudra Pratap, at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Vasco on Monday, January 5, 2026. The event marked a significant milestone in India's quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing and bolstering maritime environmental protection.
A Strategic Push for Self-Reliance
The commissioning was part of Singh's two-day visit to Goa, focused on strengthening India's maritime security infrastructure. Upon his arrival on Sunday, he received a ceremonial welcome from Goa's Minister for Protocol, Shri Mauvin Godinho, at INS Hansa in Dabolim.
Addressing the gathering, the Defence Minister underscored the critical importance of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence, labelling it a "strategic necessity" rather than a luxury. He praised institutions like GSL for turning this vision into reality by developing capabilities and absorbing technology.
"The ships built by the Goa Shipyard Limited and other Indian yards for the Indian Navy & the Indian Coast Guard are the floating symbols of India’s sovereignty, representing our presence, capability, and resolve on the high seas," Singh stated.
Unpacking the Mighty Samudra Pratap
The Samudra Pratap is a formidable addition to the Indian Coast Guard's fleet, holding the distinction of being the service's largest ship. Here are the key specifications and capabilities of this advanced vessel:
- It measures 114.5 metres in length and 16.5 metres in breadth, with a displacement of 4,170 tonnes.
- It is the first Indian Coast Guard ship with Dynamic Positioning capability (DP-1), allowing it to maintain its position precisely in challenging sea conditions.
- The vessel is armed with a 30mm CRN-91 gun and two 12.7mm stabilised remote-controlled guns with integrated fire control systems for maritime law enforcement.
- Its pollution response arsenal is cutting-edge, featuring an oil fingerprinting machine, a gyro-stabilised standoff active chemical detector, and a specialised onboard laboratory.
- The ship's integrated systems include an indigenously developed Integrated Bridge System, Integrated Platform Management System, and an Automated Power Management System.
Enhancing India's Maritime Reach and Response
The induction of Samudra Pratap is a game-changer for India's ability to protect its marine environment. The vessel is certified with FiFi-2/FFV-2 notation for high-capacity external firefighting.
Its primary mission will be to conduct comprehensive pollution response operations within India's vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and beyond. This capability is crucial for containing and cleaning up oil spills and other chemical contaminants at sea.
Beyond environmental duties, the vessel will significantly enhance the Coast Guard's operational reach in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue (SAR) operations, and overall surveillance and security of national maritime zones. The ship was formally delivered to the Coast Guard by GSL in December 2025, ahead of its official commissioning.
The launch of Samudra Pratap stands as a testament to the growing prowess of India's domestic defence industry and provides a powerful tool for the Coast Guard to safeguard the nation's blue economy and coastal ecology.
