India advances indigenous shipbuilding with keel laying of two next-gen offshore patrol vessels
New Delhi, March 18. India marked a significant step in strengthening its maritime security capabilities with the keel laying of two next-generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) at Ratnagiri on March 17.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence on March 18, the ceremony, held at M/s YMPL, marked the construction milestone of Yard 16402 and 16403 – the second and third vessels in a series of six OPVs being built for the Indian Coast Guard.
Designed for extended maritime operations, the vessels will have a range of 5,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 23 knots. Each ship will measure 117 metres in length and accommodate 11 officers and 110 personnel. They 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).
The OPVs are being indigenously designed and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, aligning with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) initiative. The contract for six such vessels was signed on December 20, 2023.
The project represents a major boost to the Coast Guard’s operational readiness and coastal security framework. Once inducted, the new fleet of OPVs is expected to enhance the force’s capability to safeguard India’s maritime interests.
The ceremony was presided over by Inspector General Sudhir Sahni, Deputy Director General (Materials and Maintenance), in the presence of senior officials from the Coast Guard and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited.
