Major achievement for Indian Coast Guard, country’s largest pollution control ship ‘Samudra Pratap’ inducted into fleet

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Strengthening India’s maritime security, the Indian Coast Guard has achieved a major milestone with the induction of the country’s first indigenously designed pollution control vessel, ICGS Samudra Pratap. The ship has been officially commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard fleet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the occasion as special and historic for the nation.

Prime Minister Modi, in a post on social media platform X, said that the commissioning of Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Pratap is significant for several reasons. He noted that the vessel strengthens the vision of self-reliance, enhances India’s security framework, and reflects the country’s commitment to sustainable development. The Prime Minister shared this message while reposting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on X.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the commissioning ceremony, called it a major success of India’s defence industrial capability. In his post dated January 5, he said that the pollution control vessel has been built by Goa Shipyard Limited and stands as a symbol of India’s mature defence industrial ecosystem. He added that Samudra Pratap reflects the modern and forward-looking approach adopted to address present-day maritime challenges.

Rajnath Singh further stated that the multi-dimensional role of the Indian Coast Guard sends a clear message that any hostile action will be met with a firm and appropriate response. He emphasized that India is a responsible maritime power committed to peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. The induction of ICGS Samudra Pratap is seen as another strong step in this direction.

With the addition of Samudra Pratap, the operational capability of the Indian Coast Guard in pollution control, firefighting, maritime security, and environmental protection will significantly increase. The vessel will also strengthen the Coast Guard’s ability to conduct extended surveillance and rapid response missions across India’s vast maritime zones.