SOURCE: AFI
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) celebrated a significant milestone with the keel laying ceremony of the first Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (Y 1280) . The ceremony was officiated by Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, AVSM VSM, CWP&A, in the presence of the Chairman, Managing Director (CMD), and senior management of GSL .
This development comes after the Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai on December 20, 2023, for the construction of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) . The contract, valued at Rs 1614.89 crore, falls under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, promoting indigenous shipbuilding [1].
The new vessels will play a crucial role in modernizing the ICG’s fleet. Four of the NGOPVs will replace existing Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that are nearing retirement, while the remaining two will expand the ICG’s operational capacity.
The induction of these advanced NGOPVs will bolster India’s coastal security apparatus. The ICG will be better equipped to patrol vast maritime zones, tackle threats like piracy and terrorism, and perform search and rescue operations more effectively.