Indigenous hovercraft have reached Vizhinjam for the first time, giving the Coast Guard additional capacity for coastal surveillance and rescue operations in shallow waters along Kerala’s southern coastline. The vessels H-561 and H-562 arrived off the Adimalathura coast near Vizhinjam around noon on Monday after travelling from Kochi.
The hovercraft are designed to operate both on land and at sea, allowing them to navigate shallow coastal waters and reach areas that may be difficult for conventional vessels to access. Their deployment is expected to support patrolling, monitoring of vulnerable coastal stretches and emergency response operations.
Built by Chowgule Shipyard in Goa, the two vessels form part of a six-hovercraft programme being undertaken indigenously for the Coast Guard under the Centre’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The programme is intended to reduce dependence on foreign-built platforms while expanding the force’s operational capabilities.
The vessels can reach a maximum speed of 96 kmph, carry a load of up to eight tonnes and accommodate 42 personnel. The Coast Guard currently operates 12 foreign-built hovercraft. The addition of the indigenous platforms will increase its capacity for coastal patrols and rescue missions, according to the report.
The two hovercraft reached Vizhinjam after visiting coastal areas under different Coast Guard stations in the southern region. They are currently undertaking trial voyages, which are scheduled to conclude at Haldia in West Bengal. Premjit Sahol is the commanding officer of the hovercraft that reached Vizhinjam, while each vessel has three officers and 16 personnel on board.
The vessels were received at Vizhinjam by station commanding officer Suresh Kurup and executive officer Commandant Biju Philip. They are scheduled to leave for Thoothukudi on Tuesday as part of their trial movement.
The arrival comes as Vizhinjam develops its role as an international port and tourism destination. Officials said the Coast Guard station at Vizhinjam could potentially be allotted a dedicated hovercraft unit. Such a deployment would provide a permanent platform for surveillance and emergency response in shallow waters near the southern coastline, but no such allocation has been announced in the report. The current vessels will continue their scheduled trial voyages, with Haldia listed as the final destination.
