Government Signs ₹1614-Crore Deal with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders for Six Offshore Patrol Vessels

In a significant development, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has formalized a contract with Mumbai-based state-owned Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) for the procurement of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), valued at ₹1614.89 crore. This deal comes just five days after the MoD secured a substantial $42 million export order from Denmark.

The cutting-edge, multi-role NGOPVs will be designed, developed, and manufactured indigenously by MDL, with delivery scheduled over a period of sixty-six months to the Coast Guard, according to an official press release from the Ministry of Defence. Four of these vessels, produced under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, will serve as replacements for existing aging Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), while the remaining two will contribute to augmenting the ICG fleet.

The Ministry highlighted the strategic significance of this acquisition, emphasizing its role in enhancing the Indian Coast Guard's capabilities and reinforcing the government's heightened focus on maritime security. The NGOPVs are expected to play a crucial role in a variety of maritime operations, including surveillance, law enforcement, search and rescue, maritime pollution response, and other vital capabilities, including humanitarian assistance.

This move underscores the government's commitment to modernizing and strengthening the maritime defense infrastructure, aligning with broader national security objectives.

HBL