Goa. The vessel INS Srishti was launched on Tuesday at Goa Shipyard Limited’s (GSL) Vaddem facility, according to reports of the ceremony. The defence ministry identified it as Yard 1283. Sandeepa Sahay performed the ceremonial launch, with Vishvajit Sahay, secretary (defence finance), attending as chief guest alongside GSL officials and senior Navy and ministry representatives. The keel of Srishti was laid on June 9, 2025.
Srishti is the fourth next-generation offshore patrol vessel (NGOPV) being built at GSL, the report said. The launch adds another hull to a programme split between GSL and Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE). GSL is building seven ships, while GRSE is responsible for four. The Navy’s order covers 11 vessels under contracts signed in March 2023.
The contracts for the NGOPVs total ₹9,781 crore and were awarded under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, which prioritises indigenously designed, developed and manufactured equipment. At the time of signing, the Ministry of Defence said the construction programme was expected to generate 110 lakh person-days of employment over seven- and-a-half years. It described the ships as intended to meet operational requirements including anti-piracy, counter-infiltration, anti-poaching, anti-trafficking, search and rescue, non-combatant evacuation and protection of offshore assets.
Offshore patrol vessels are used for sustained surveillance at sea, monitoring activity in maritime areas and protecting offshore infrastructure. The ministry’s stated roles for the NGOPV programme also include coastal defence and rescue missions. Their expected duties span routine presence and security tasks as well as responses to emergencies and threats around India’s maritime interests.
A launch is a significant shipbuilding milestone, but it does not mean a vessel is ready for naval service. After entering the water, a ship typically undergoes fitting-out, installation and integration of equipment, testing and sea trials before delivery and commissioning. No ship-specific date for Srishti’s entry into service was reported alongside the launch.
The programme’s work is progressing in parallel at the two shipyards. Reporting on the ceremony said GSL’s first NGOPV, Shachi, was launched in March, while GRSE launched Shreyas on October 10. These launches represent construction progress; neither should be confused with delivery or induction into the Navy.
At the launch event, Vishvajit Sahay emphasised productivity, cost-efficiency and timely execution, and called for digital planning, standardised designs and effective contract implementation. Those priorities are central to delivering a multi-ship programme on schedule while managing complex manufacturing work across shipyards and their suppliers. GSL Chairman and Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay reaffirmed the yard’s commitment to meeting the Navy’s operational requirements and maintaining quality standards, the report said.
The project also reflects the government’s push to increase domestic defence production. The Indigenous-Design category and division of construction between two Indian shipyards are intended to expand national shipbuilding capacity and involve local manufacturers. The ministry has linked the programme to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and India’s broader effort to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing.
For the Navy, the launch adds a new vessel to a growing fleet modernisation effort focused not only on major combatants but also on platforms that can maintain a persistent presence at sea. Once completed and accepted, Srishti is expected to contribute to patrol, surveillance and offshore protection missions. For now, its launch marks a construction milestone-and another step in the longer process of turning the 11-ship order into operational capability.
