The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, 18 March, announced the keel laying of two next generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard, marking progress in India’s maritime capability expansion.
The keel laying ceremony for Yard 16402 and Yard 16403 – the second and third vessels in a series of six OPVs – was held at YMLP, Ratnagiri on Tuesday, 17 March.
The event was presided over by Inspector General Sudhir Sahni, DDG (M&M), in the presence of senior officials from the Indian Coast Guard and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
These next-generation vessels are designed with a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 23 knots.
Each ship will measure 117 metres in length and will be crewed by 11 officers and 110 personnel.
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The OPVs will be equipped with advanced systems including AI-based predictive maintenance, remote piloted drones, an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and an Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), enhancing operational efficiency and surveillance capability.
The vessels are being indigenously designed and constructed under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category as part of the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The contract for six such vessels was signed on 20 December 2023.
The induction of these OPVs is expected to strengthen the Indian Coast Guard’s operational capabilities and enhance coastal security, further reinforcing India’s maritime interests.
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