NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 27
The 6th Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Indian Coast Guard was launched from the L&T Ship Building facility in Kattupalli near Chennai on Thursday.
Geetha Mandaviya, wife of the Union Minister of State for Shipping, Chemical and Fertiliser Mansukh Mandaviya launched the OPV in the presence of Director General K Natarajan, PTM, TM, Director General Indian Coast Guard, Inspector General S Paramesh, PTM, TM Commander Coast Guard Region (East) and various other Service/ Civilian dignitaries, says a Defence press release.
Addressing at the launching ceremony, the minister said that the Indian Coast Guard is on the path of rapid expansion which requires large number of state-of-the-art ships and aircrafts to strengthen the maritime security mechanism in the prevailing security scenario.
The minister also stated that the assets requirements are being met by adding new ships and replacement of ageing existing OPV class of ships in phased manner which have been inducted 30-35 yrs ago, he added. The minister acknowledged the timely delivery of OPV by L&T.
The OPV launched is the sixth in the series of 07 OPV projects being built by L&T Shipbuilding under the contract signed between Ministry of Defence and M/s L&T, Ltd in 2015. In keeping with the Prime Minister’s initiative of Make in India, the contract for building OPV class of vessel was awarded to Larsen & Toubro, Ltd. The 6th OPV launched today is likely to be inducted into the Indian Coast Guard in Oct 2020 after completion of extensive trials and testing for the equipment and machinery fitted onboard.
Salient features of OPV
The length of the OPV is 98 mtrs and breadth 15M with gross tonnage of 2100 tons. The endurance of the vessel is 5000 nautical miles. The Maximum speed is 26 Knots being propelled by 02 diesel driven engines of 9000KW each with low level fuel consumption, high TBO and complying with IMO Tier-II norms. The ship will be fitted with on CRN -91 and two 12.7 mm guns and will be capable of carrying an Integral Twin Engine Helicopter which will enhance its operational, surveillance and search and rescue capability.
The Ship would be utilized for day and night patrol/ surveillance along with anti-terrorist/anti-smuggling operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as Coastal Security. The OPV will have two Navigation Radars with ultra-modern technology, sophisticated navigational and latest communication systems. The ship would be manned by 121 personnel, the release added.
