New Delhi: The keel laying ceremony of second and third ship of 06 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPVs) was held at YMPL, Ratnagiri on March 17. The ceremony was presided over by IG Sudhir Sahni, TM, DDG, in the presence senior officials from Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and MDL.
The contract for the construction of 06 Next Generation OPVs was concluded on December 20, 2023.
With a range of 5,000 nautical miles, measuring 117 metres in length and having a strength of 11 officers and 110 men, the ship will be capable of achieving a maximum speed of 23 knots.
It will also feature state-of-the-art machinery and advanced technological systems, including AI-based predictive maintenance systems, Remote Piloted Drones, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
This ship is being indigenously designed, developed, and constructed by MDL under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, in line with the GoI’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
The project underscores India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence production and will significantly contribute to strengthening the nation’s strategic autonomy. This initiative marks a key milestone in ICG’s ongoing efforts to enhance its operational capabilities and bolstering Coastal Security. The addition of new fleet of NGOPVs will further ensure strengthening the ICG’s role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.
