Mangaluru : Karnataka governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala will commission Indian Coast Guard’s new Air Cushion Vessels (ACV) — H-196 and H-198 at the Coast Guard Complex, Panambur here on November 10.

Speaking in a press meet Rajamani Sharma, Deputy inspector general and commander, Coast Guard (Karnataka) said that the Governor will commission the ACVs in the presence of Inspector General SPS Basra, commander, Coast Guard Region (West). The commissioning programme will include a presentation of guard of honour to the Governor, reading out of commissioning warrant, exchange of memento and unveiling of hovercrafts. The new two ACVs will complement the four inshore patrol vessels that Coast Guard already has here, he said.

The 21 meter-long ACV with 31 tons displacement can achieve 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 and crafts. The craft is capable of moving on land as well as sea. Areas inaccessible from both sea and land can be approached by hovercraft. The craft operates by skimming over the surface of the water using a cushion of air created by two propellers fitted on top of the craft.

The ACV is fully armed with heavy machine guns and latest state of the art communication and navigation equipment including radar and worldwide satellite communication. In order to strengthen the coastal security along the state’s coast, the hovercraft is scheduled to be based at new Mangalore.