Garden Reach Shipbuilders Commences Construction of Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels

Defensae News ,India :- Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a top Indian defense company, is now working on the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) at their RBD Unit. The recent plate cutting ceremony for Yards 3039 and 3040 is a big step forward in this project.

GRSE got a contract from the Ministry of Defence last year to build four NGOPVs. The whole project is expected to cost about Rs 3,500 crore. The first ship should be ready in 44 months from when the contract was signed, and the others will follow every six months.

Key Features of the NGOPVs:

1. Size and Speed: These new patrol ships will be around 110 meters long and weigh about 2,900 tons. They can travel at a maximum speed of over 23 knots.

2. Versatile Roles: The NGOPVs are designed for various tasks such as defending the coast, handling emergencies in different areas, evacuating non-combatants, leading convoy operations, fighting piracy, countering infiltration, preventing poaching and trafficking, providing humanitarian aid during disasters, conducting search and rescue missions, serving as hospital ships, supporting fleet maintenance, and carrying out communications intelligence operations.