Design and description
The construction of vessels was ordered in April 1990 and these ships are half-sisters to seven Sukanya-class patrol vessel units in the Indian Navy. A total of twelve were originally planned and then cut to six. The vessels are intended for offshore patrol duties for the protection of oil platforms and the Indian exclusive economic zone.
The vessels in this class are 102 meters (334 ft 8 in) long with a beam of 11.6 meters (38 ft 1 in). They are powered by two Kirloskar-SEMT-Pielstick diesel engines (8,000 hp , 6,000 kW) driving two propellers and have a range 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The Samar-class ships feature an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS), high power External Fire Fighting System, two Indian-built 30 mm gun mounts and one 76 mm OTO Melara dual-purpose gun. Besides, the ships are provided with a BEL-made onboard day/night infrared surveillance system to detect elusive targets which can evade radar detection due to their small radar cross-section (RCS) or higher sea state. [4]
Capability
Each ship carries a single Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), with dedicated hangar and flight deck, and five high speed boats. The vessels also have towing capacity for salvage and Inmarsat satellite communications. They have accommodation for a crew of 12 officers and 112 enlisted sailors. Additional accommodation has also been provided for passengers. [3]
Operational history
On 25 August 2024, the Indian Coast Guard rescued 11 crew members from a sinking merchant vessel MV ITT Puma. The ship was travelling from Kolkata to Port Blair when it sank 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) south of Sagar Island due to adverse weather and sea environment. The search and rescue operation was conducted in coordination by ICGS Amogh (an Aadesh-class patrol vessel), ICGS Sarang and an ICG Dornier 228 aircraft. [5] [6]
Between 19 April and 14 August 2025, ICGS Sarang underwent a complicated Life Extension Refit (LER) by the Hindustan Shipyard. The ship was delivered three days ahead of schedule, in spite of the fact that the scope of the LER was increased by 35% midway which required higher number of spares and close coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, the operator. Major works included replacement of the stern tube and ‘A’ bracket bearings, renewing the shaft tunnel hull boss plates without removing the propeller shaft, and installing nine new pumps, all of which passed trials successfully. Routine tasks covered machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, fire-fighting, and fuel systems. Additional work involved renewing 12 tonnes of steel, overhauling 140 motors, 300 valves, and 46 pumps, as well as replacing 3 km of pipelines. [7] [8]
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ICGS Sarang during fire dousing operation.
