Giving a boost to coastal security, a new interceptor boat (V-409) built by Bharathi Defence and Infrastructure Limited (BDIL) was launched at a function held at the Coast Guard yard.
Launching the new interceptor boat, Pavitran Alokkan, President and Head, BDIL, Mangaluru, added the company had a live order book of various defence vessels including interceptor boats for Indian Coast Guard and auxiliary vessels for the Indian Navy.
The shipyard was committed to delivering these assets to national security and every effort was being put in to arrange funds and expedite project completion, he said at the launch yesterday.
The 28-metre long, V-409 interceptor boat has aluminium hull and fitted with new generation of Arneson Surface Drive (ASD) which is propelled by two powerful diesel engines of 1650 KW each.
The vessel has the capability of attaining very high speed in a very short duration and can operate in shallow waters.
The INR 18 crore vessel would be inducted into Coast Guard service by mid-October this year and join four other vessels delivered by the shipyard earlier, a Coast Guard release here said.
BDIL is constructing 20 vessels for Indian Coast Guard of which six had already been handed over. The remaining vessels would be handed over on the projected time.