On 23 Mar 25, Keel Laying ceremony of the second and third Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV), to be constructed by Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL), was held at M/s Yeoman Marine Services Private Ltd (YMSPL), Ratnagiri. The contracts for indigenous design and construction of 11 NGOPVs were concluded on 30 Mar 23 between the Ministry of Defence and GSL, Goa, and M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with seven ships to be constructed by Lead Shipyard M/s GSL and four ships by Follow Shipyard M/s GRSE.
Main hull blocks of Yard 1281 and Yard 1282 are being fabricated at the premises of YMSPL, Ratnagiri, as part of GSL’s build strategy. Keel Laying ceremony of both vessels was held at Ratnagiri with V Adm R Swaminathan, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of senior officials from the Indian Navy, M/s GSL and M/s YMSPL.
The NGOPVs with an approximate tonnage of 3000T are designed for Coastal Defence & Surveillance, Search & Rescue operations, Protection of Offshore Assets and Anti-Piracy missions. Keel Laying of these vessels marks a significant milestone in the overall project timeline. The 11 NGOPVs are being built in consonance with the nation’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ and are poised to augment the Indian Navy’s maritime prowess.
