The Indian Coast Guard bid farewell to one of its oldest Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), known as hovercrafts, at Haldia in West Bengal. H-186, commissioned on March 21, 2002, served in Search and Rescue missions during its 24 years of service.
The ACV, H-186, will be displayed at a museum in New Town, Kolkata, alongside a decommissioned Tu-142M aircraft of the Indian Navy. It will be open to visitors as part of the Indian Coast Guard’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.
During a ceremony at Coast Guard Headquarters No 8 in Haldia, attended by various dignitaries, the ICG praised H-186 for its agility and capabilities in missions like coastal surveillance and anti-smuggling operations. The craft received awards for its exceptional Search and Rescue efforts, including saving numerous lives in critical operations.
The Indian Coast Guard initiated the use of ACVs to operate in shallow waters off the West Bengal and Gujarat coasts. As older hovercrafts are phased out, the ICG is introducing new indigenous ACVs to enhance coastal security and meet evolving challenges with modernized assets and technology.
