Goa shipyard lays keel for 3rd vessel of new class OPVS

Keel of the third Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Vessel of the new 5 CGOPVs Project for the Indian Coast Guard was ceremoniously laid at Goa Shipyard Ltd on 1^st August 2018 by RAdm Philipose George Pynumootil, NM Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area and Naval Aviation in the presence of RAdm Shekhar Mital, CMD, GSL, DIG Himanshu Nautiyal (COMDIS), DIG Atul Parlikar and Senior officials of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and from GSL were also present on the occasion says a GSL release. 

The 05 CG OPV project is follow-on of 06 CG OPV Project, completed in 2017. With focused efforts towards ‘Make In India’, the indigenous content has been increased from 60%, for 06 CG OPV Project, to 70% for the ongoing 05 CG OPV Project. It is noteworthy that the contract for 5 CGOPVs was signed by GSL with MoD on 26^th Aug 2016 and commencement of production of first vessel was formally started within 3 months with formal steel cutting on 13^th November 2016, at the hands of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. These Vessels are scheduled to be delivered between Jan 2020 to Jun 2021. 

These vessels for the Indian Coast Guard are based on in-house design of GSL and will be fitted with most modern and technologically advanced machinery and computerized controls systems, making them the most advanced Patrol Vessels in service with the Indian Coast Guard on delivery. These 2400 tonnes vessels will be equipped with additional features like Quick Response Boats for rescue and anti piracy, Gunnery simulators and many more advanced features. 

 The Shipyard also aims to bring down the reduced build period for OPVs for ongoing 05 CG OPV Project to 30 months against 36 months taken for 06 CG OPV Project.