The Indian Coast Guard has strengthened its presence along Gujarat’s coast with the arrival of ICGS Ajit at Okha earlier this week. The newly commissioned Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) will operate from the strategic port, adding capacity for surveillance, rescue and coastal security missions in the Arabian Sea, according to the Coast Guard.
ICGS Ajit was commissioned at Goa Shipyard Ltd on October 9 this year, and it arrived on November 3, 2026.
The ship is the seventh of eight Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels being built by Goa Shipyard for the Coast Guard. It was handed over to the force on August 25, before its formal commissioning.
Fast Patrol Vessels are smaller than offshore patrol vessels. But their size allows them to respond quickly close to shore when it comes to fishing boats, smuggling routes, oil assets and search-and-rescue missions.
ICGS Ajit is equipped with advanced navigation, communication and surveillance systems.
According to The Coast Guard, ICGS Ajit will protect maritime boundaries, fishermen and offshore assets. It will also support pollution response, anti-smuggling operations and search-and-rescue missions.
Okha in Gujarat is an important maritime location and is a gateway to important offshore infrastructure. Vessels stationed there can cut response time in the north-west region, where the Coast Guard must monitor both routine fishing activity and security risks, especially given its proximity to Pakistan's shores.
ICGS Ajit is part of India’s push to build defence platforms domestically. Goa Shipyard’s vessel is said to contain more than 65 per cent indigenous content.
“The arrival of ICGS Ajit marks yet another significant milestone in strengthening the operational preparedness and force levels of the Indian Coast Guard in the North-West region, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to ensuring safe, secure and vigilant seas,” the Coast Guard said in a statement at the ceremony.
