New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS): A special training ship will be constructed for the Indian Coast Guard at a cost of more than Rs 300 crore, an official said on Tuesday.

The Defence Ministry said that it will be a dedicated platform with helicopter landing capabilities, adding the training ship will be an advanced one with modern high-tech surveillance.

Its monitoring systems will provide profound insight and expertise to the ICG cadets on the challenges at sea while ensuring the security of coastline and offshore assets.

For this initiative, the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for the construction of a training ship for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

This contract was signed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) at a cost of Rs 310 crore under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category in Delhi on October 17.

According to the Ministry, this is the first dedicated training platform with integral helicopter capabilities that will provide basic sea training to 70 Coast Guard and other international under-trainee officers to prepare the budding mariners for the multi-dimensional maritime aspects of Coast Guard life.

The Defence Ministry said that the majority of equipment and systems for this construction work will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers, including MSMEs.

The project envisages generating significant employment over a period of three years.

While meeting the objectives of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', the contract would also boost the indigenous shipbuilding capability and help in bolstering maritime economic capabilities, the official added.