Mangaluru, May 13 (PTI): Coast guard vessel Vikram, the first in the class of seven new-generation offshore patrol vessels under the union government's 'Make in India' initiative, arrived at its base port here today.

The ship is 98 metres long, 15 metres wide and can move in a range of 5,000 nautical miles and can attain a sustained speed of upto 26 knots, a press release said.

The ship is built with an integrated platform management system to enable special control capabilities, it said.

It has been fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machines, it said, adding that Vikram also features 30-mm gun and a 12.7-mm gun.

The ship is also designed to carry a twin-engine light and heavy helicopters, as also a pollution response equipment to contain oil-spill in sea.

Vikram, meaning valour, has a crew of 14 officers and 88 men, all commanded by Rajkamal Sinha.

The arrival of Vikram in Mangalore would be a new milestone in increased maritime security of Karnataka, the release said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)