Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a Defence PSU and a leading warship building company laid the keel of Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) Yard 2118 today.
The keel laying ceremony was held in the august presence of Inspector General Maneesh V Pathak, TM, Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East), Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Cmde Sanjeev Nayyar, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding) and Cmde. PR Hari, IN (Retd), Director (Personnel) and other senior officials of the Indian Coast Guard, GRSE and M/s TWL, Kolkata. This vessel is being constructed for Indian Coast Guard as a replacement for the recently exported FPV SCG PS Zoroaster which was handed over by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to Govt. of Seychelles.
The FPVs are medium-range surface vessels with a length of 50 m, a width of 7.5 m and displacement of around 308 T and are proficient at operating in the maritime zones of India. These powerful, fuel-efficient platforms are designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and rescue operations. The vessels are designed for a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nautical miles. It will be equipped with 03 MTU 4000 series engine and built up with Advanced Control Systems, Water Jet Units and Integrated Bridge System for all communication and navigation structures. The ship is also fitted with 40/60 gun as the main armament with improved habitability features of fully air-conditioned modular accommodation for 35 personnel. The entire design of these FPVs has been developed in-house by GRSE as per requirements specified by the Indian Coast Guard.
GRSE also started production of second and third Ship (Yard 3030 & Yard 3031) of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASWSWC) project on 14 Jul 2021. ‘Start Production’ is the first ‘Milestone’ in shipbuilding and signifies commencement of vessel construction after design engineering phase. The compact and complex stealth crafts are designed by GRSE, and these platforms will be packed with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors like Hull Mounted Sonar, Towed Sonar, Torpedo Launchers and Rocket Launcher to interdict and destroy sub-surface targets in coastal waters. The crafts are capable of ‘Search & Rescue’ and ‘Low Intensity Maritime Operations’ and are propelled by water-jets capable of high speed movement.
The shipyard is currently executing three major shipbuilding projects, namely the P17A Project for 3 Advanced Stealth Frigates, 4 Survey Vessels (Large) and 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts. The Shipyard also received an Export Order from Government of Guyana for Design, Construction and Delivery of 01 Ocean Going Passenger cum Cargo Ferry Vessel. The vessel is under construction. With proven export credentials backed by a healthy order book, the shipyard is well on its way to realise its vision of being a global leader in shipbuilding.
