Chowgule Shipyard in Goa has unveiled H-561, the first hovercraft built by an Indian private-sector shipyard for the Indian Coast Guard. Officially inducted into service in June 2026, H-561 is the initial vessel in a series of six Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) being constructed under a Ministry of Defence contract signed in October 2024. Hovercraft operate on a cushion of pressurised air, enabling them to navigate shallow waters, mudflats, and coastal creeks inaccessible to traditional vessels, making them ideal for surveillance, interdiction, disaster response, and search-and-rescue missions. While India has previously operated imported hovercraft, this marks the first domestically built series by a private shipyard. The project involved advanced manufacturing techniques and specialised aluminium fabrication at Chowgule's Goa facilities. This development supports India's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, reflecting the shipyard's broader innovation efforts in high-technology vessel construction.