Keel laid for fourth Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel for Indian Coast Guard
New Delhi, June 25. The keel-laying ceremony for the fourth of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) being built for the Indian Coast Guard was held at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited’s shipyard in Mumbai on June 25, marking another milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen maritime security and indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
The vessel is being designed, developed and constructed indigenously by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and will be equipped with modern machinery and advanced onboard systems.
Senior officials from the Indian Coast Guard and MDL attended the ceremony.
The six-vessel NGOPV programme is aimed at enhancing the operational capabilities of the Coast Guard and improving India’s ability to undertake maritime surveillance, coastal security, search and rescue operations and law enforcement missions across its vast maritime domain.
The contract for the construction of the six vessels was signed between the government and MDL on December 20, 2023.
The project forms part of the government’s broader push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) initiative and reflects increasing indigenous capabilities in the design and construction of advanced naval platforms.
Once inducted into service, the next-generation offshore patrol vessels are expected to significantly strengthen the Indian Coast Guard’s operational reach and contribute to safeguarding India’s maritime interests and strategic autonomy in the Indian Ocean region.
