Chennai, Oct 27 (IANS): The Indian Coast Guard fleet strength will touch 200 ships and 100 aircrafts by 2022, said a senior official of the coastal security organisation.
Speaking at the launch function of the first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) built by L&T near here, Additional Director General V.S.R. Murthy said the ship fleet strength of Coast Guard will go up to 200 by 2022.
"Seventy ships are under construction in six shipyards. Coast Guard currently has 130 ships and 62 aircraft," Murthy said.
Named ICGS Vikram -- the Rs 186 crore OPV was built by L&T Shipbuilding Ltd. It is the first of the seven OPVs to be built by the firm for the Coast Guard.
According to B. Kannan, MD and CEO of L&T Shipbuilding Ltd, the ship will be handed over to the Coast Guard after harbour and sea trials.
He said the company's order book size is Rs 1,700 crore which will keep the company busy for the next three years.