Indian Navy Holds Keel Laying Ceremony For The 1st Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel

The Indian Navy held the keel-laying ceremony for its first next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on May 3, 2024.

VAdm B Siva Kumar, Controller Warship Production and Acquisition, presided over the ceremony, attended by renowned guests such as BK Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL, and senior officials from the Indian Navy and GSL.

The historic event dates back to March 30, 2023, when contracts were signed between the Ministry of Defence and GSL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata for the indigenous concept and construction of 11 NGOPVs.

According to the agreement, GSL will construct seven vessels, with GRSE constructing the remaining four.

This effort, which involved a total investment of $1.2 billion, demonstrates India’s commitment to strengthening its maritime defence capabilities through domestic manufacturing.

The NGOPVs are expected to perform several crucial missions, including anti-piracy operations, coastal defence and surveillance, search and rescue missions, and offshore asset protection.

With a length of approximately 115 meters and a displacement of 2,500 tons, these vessels represent a significant increase in size over the current patrol vessel in service.

Such advancements will likely strengthen the Indian Navy’s combat readiness, especially in protecting the country’s economic and geopolitical interests in the Indian Ocean region.

The keel-laying ceremony symbolises a critical turning point in the Indian Navy’s pursuit of indigenous shipbuilding.

It supports the country’s efforts to achieve ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) and ‘Make In India’.

In recent years, there has been a deliberate push to lessen the reliance on imports while increasing domestic expertise in defence manufacturing.

Reference: PIB

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