Indian Coast Guard held a girder-laying ceremony on 11 May 2026 at the Rassaim Yard in Goa

Indian Coast Guard held a girder-laying ceremony on 11 May 2026 at the Rassaim Yard in Goa

¨     Indian Coast Guard held a girder-laying ceremony on 11 May 2026 at the Rassaim Yard in Goa.

¨     The ceremony was conducted for the fourth, fifth and sixth Air Cushion Vehicles.

¨  The project is being executed under a contract signed on 24 October 2024 with Chowgule and Company Private Limited.

¨     The project covers the indigenous construction of six Air Cushion Vehicles.

¨     An Air Cushion Vehicle is also known as a hovercraft.

¨     It moves on a cushion of air created by lift fans and a skirt system.

¨     It can operate on water, muddy terrain and marshy areas.

¨     It is capable of travelling over low-friction surfaces.

¨     The six Air Cushion Vehicles are being built in India.

¨     Around 50 percent indigenous content is being used in the project.

¨     The design has been developed by the United Kingdom-based Griffon Hoverwork.

¨     The vessels are being constructed at Chowgule Shipyard in Goa.

¨  The Indian Coast Guard plans to use these vehicles for high-speed coastal patrol operations.

¨     They will also be deployed for reconnaissance in shallow waters.

¨     The vehicles will support operations in marshy regions.

¨     They will also be used for deep-sea missions and search-and-rescue operations.

¨     Delivery of the first Air Cushion Vehicle under the project is expected soon.