GOA: India’s indigenous maritime manufacturing capabilities have received a significant boost with the delivery of the second of six Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), ICG H-562, to the Indian Coast Guard which is constructed by Chowgule and Company Shipbuilding Division. The delivery comes just three months after the handover of the first hovercraft, ICG H-561.
Both hovercraft have been delivered within the contractual timelines and successfully exceeded the contracted maximum speed of 45 knots during trials, demonstrating their performance and operational capabilities.
The project marks an important milestone in India’s maritime and defence manufacturing journey. The contract for six 8,000TD Air Cushion Vehicles, awarded by the Ministry of Defence under the Buy (Indian) category, represents the first-ever order for hovercraft to be built in India for the Indian Coast Guard.
Manufactured at a dedicated hovercraft production facility in Goa, the vessels have been designed to operate effectively in shallow, marshy and inter-tidal waters. The ACVs will support a range of critical missions, including coastal surveillance and patrol, interception and search-and-rescue operations along India’s coastline.
The project also highlights the growing role of indigenous industrial capabilities in India’s maritime sector. Developed and manufactured in Goa, the hovercraft have contributed to the creation of a local supply chain, with major components being produced by Goan industries and supported by local MSMEs and skilled manpower.
The initiative aligns with the Government’s broader objectives of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, while strengthening domestic expertise in specialised maritime platforms and technologies.
With four more hovercraft currently at advanced stages of construction, the project is set to further enhance India’s capability to design and manufacture specialised vessels for challenging coastal and maritime environments.
The successful delivery of ICG H-562 underscores the importance of indigenous innovation, engineering expertise and collaboration in strengthening India’s maritime security infrastructure and building a more self-reliant maritime manufacturing ecosystem.
