The Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), on Thursday, began the production activity for the first fast patrol vessel (FPV) of 14 FPVs project for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). Along with this, plate cutting of a second ship of next-generation offshore patrol vessels (NGOPVs) was also undertaken.
The plate cutting ceremony for FPV1 marks the official start of the production activities for this project, the MDL said in a release.
MDL has signed a contract with ICG to design, build, and deliver a total of 14 fast patrol vessels at a cost of Rs 1,070.47 crore.
Each vessel will feature a waterjet propulsion drive, built to meet contractual speed in excess of 33 knots and shall be classified under Dual class.
The vessels, to be used for patrolling coastal waters and protection of fisheries, will be designed as high-speed craft, equipped with a waterjet propulsion, high-speed diesel engine. They will be capable of carrying a small high-speed boat to carry out search and rescue missions in shallow waters. They will also have the inherent capability to switch over to wartime roles such as providing communication link, escorting coastal convoys, logistic support, medical evacuation and supplement Indian naval resources, the statement said.
MDL has signed a contract with ICG to design, build and deliver six next-generation offshore patrol vessels at a cost of Rs 1,614.89 crore. Each vessel is fitted with twin controllable pitch propellers driven by 9,000 kW engines to meet contractual speed in excess of 23 knots and will be classified under Dual Class. The vessels will be designed as high-speed craft under Class HSC rules, to be used primarily for coastal and offshore patrolling and policing maritime zones of India. Their primary role also includes fisheries protection, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy, search and rescue operations, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communication.
