GSL delivers OPV to Sri Lankan Navy

Goa Shipyard (GSL) delivered a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to the Sri Lankan Navy on 22 July 2017.

Designed in-house and built by GSL, the keel of the vessel was laid on 10 September 2014 and was the ship was launched on 5 May 2016.

The naval vessel is designed for patrolling and policing maritime zones, search and rescue, pollution control, external fire fighting and the operation of a light helicopter for long range search and surveillance. Powered by two diesel engines, the vessel delivers a maximum speed of 25 knots and has a range of 6500NM. It is armed with a 30mm gun system and two 12.7mm gun systems, both with fire control systems.

The shipyard is also currently building six OPVs for the Sri Lankan Coast Guard. The fifth of these was delivered earlier this month. The coast guard variant is more lightly armed with one 30mm gun and two 12.5mm super rapid chain guns.

Shekhar Mital, CMD, GSL, said: ‘First time in the history of GSL, we are handing over two OPVs within a gap of one month, against earlier minimum interval of five-six months.

'In last 20 months, we have delivered five OPVs for coast guard, two fast patrol vessels and 11 FICs for Mauritius and this AOPV for Sri Lanka, besides other smaller projects, all ahead of schedule.’