The 21 metres long Air Cushion Vehicle, or hovercraft, with 31 tonnes
displacement has a maximum speed of 45 knots. It is capable of undertaking
multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue
and rendering assistance to small boats/craft in distress at sea. With the
commissioning of H-188, the force level of ICG has gone up to 77 ships and
boats and with the planned inductions the force level would be doubling by
2018.
The Air Cushion Vehicle H-188 will be based at Haldia under the Administrative
and Operational Control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North-East). The
hovercraft is commanded by Commandant D Dinakaran. The hovercraft has a crew of
2 Officers and 11 Enrolled Personnel.
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