Kolkata, 18 May (H.S.) : Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers will launch the first of the four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) being constructed for the Indian Navy on May 20, marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding programme.

According to officials, the new warship will feature a high level of indigenous content, further strengthening the country’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative in the defence manufacturing sector.

Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan will attend the ceremony as the chief guest, while Sarita Vatsayan will formally launch the vessel.

GRSE has a long history of constructing Offshore Patrol Vessels for both the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. In 2014, the shipyard delivered MCGS Barracuda to Mauritius, which became India’s first exported warship. The vessel also earned GRSE the Defence Minister’s Award of Excellence for in-house design efforts.

The upcoming NGOPVs are significantly larger and more capable than the earlier OPVs built by the shipyard. Each vessel will measure around 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, with a displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes. The ships are designed to achieve speeds of up to 23 knots and will have an operational endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. Each vessel will accommodate 24 officers and more than 100 sailors.

The Navy plans to deploy the NGOPVs across a wide range of maritime operations. Owing to their shallow draught requirement of only four metres, the vessels will be capable of operating effectively in coastal waters. Their operational roles will include protection of offshore assets, maritime interdiction, visit, board, search and seizure operations, surveillance missions and mine warfare support.

The warships will also support special operations and participate in out-of-area contingency missions, non-combatant evacuation operations, convoy protection, anti-piracy patrols and counter-infiltration activities. In addition, they will be used in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, search and rescue operations, anti-poaching and anti-trafficking activities.

Officials further said the vessels will possess capabilities to function as hospital ships and communication intelligence platforms while also providing fleet maintenance support during extended naval deployments.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh