Air Marshal AK Gogoi, Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command, on Thursday commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship C-401 at Porbandar.

Equipped with high-tech navigation & communication equipment as well as medium range armament, the Ship C-401 is a thirty-meter long interceptor boat with 90 tonne displacement that is capable of achieving a top speed of 45 knots.

With twelve crew members, the interceptor boat C-401 will be based at Mundra. After the commissioning of this boat, the Indian Coast Guard's force level has now increased to 77 boats and ships.

As part of efforts to contribute more to the country's defence, the Indian Coast Guard aims to double its force level by 2018.

The newly commissioned Ship C-401 is the first of thirty-six such ships being constructed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) under a Coast Guard contract worth around Rs 977 crore.

Separately, the Indian Coast Guard and the Coastal Security Police successfully rescued a boat that developed a crack nearly 30 km off coast of Surathkal on Wednesday afternoon.

K. L. Arunkumar, captain of the vessel, said that a total of ten fishermen were in the vessel called Vijouin. Speaking on the topic, he added, "They did not have food and water. As we approached them, we gave them water and they calmed down."

The vessel's owner, Mr. Joseph, had requested the Coast Guard to bring the vessel to the coast.