Mangalore: Coastal Security is expected to receive a booster dose when the second of two Hover craft set to arrive in Mangalore on October 6. While ICG Hovercraft H-196 had arrived here on September 22, ICG Hovercraft H-198, the third series of ACV built by United Kingdom is set to touch base on Monday.

The 21 metres long ACV with 31 tons of displacement can achieve maximum speed of 45 knots (90-kmph). It is capable of undertaking multifarious tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue and rendering assistance to small boats/craft’s at sea. The craft is capable of operation on land as well as over sea. Areas inaccessible from both sea and land can be approached by hovercraft likely marshy lands and isolated islands.

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H-198 is fully armed with a heavy machine gun and the state-of-art communication and navigation equipment including radar and worldwide satellite communication. It carries a crew of two officers and 11 sailors of other ranks.

The craft operates by skimming over the surface of water using a cushion of air created by two propellers fitted on top of the craft. The hovercraft will be commanded by Commandant Amitabh Banerjee.

The process for construction of a hover port to house the two ACVs – H-196 and H-198 is underway and expected to be completed soon.