Larsen & Toubro (L&T) today said it has launched an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for Indian Coast Guard as part of Rs 1,432 crore project.
"Larsen & Toubro launched the Lead OPV of a series of seven OPVs for the Indian Coast Guard today. Entirely designed in-house, from concept, this is the first OPV class vessel for the Indian Coast Guard that has been built by a private sector yard in a record time frame," the company said in a statement.
L&T was entrusted by the Ministry of Defence in March 2015 to design and build seven OPVs for an order value of Rs 1,432 crore.
The order stipulated delivery of the first OPV within 36 months from signing of the contract i.e. by March 2018 and subsequent vessels at intervals of six months.
"However, with the construction of multiple OPVs progressing on or ahead of schedule, all are planned to be delivered ahead of the contracted delivery dates," the company said.
OPVs under the project are long range surface ships, capable of operation in maritime zones of India, including island territories with helicopter operation capabilities, it said adding, their roles include coastal and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones of India, control & surveillance, anti-smuggling & anti-piracy with limited wartime roles.
"The vessel that is 97m long, 15m wide, has 3.6m draught, 2140 T displacement with a range of 5000 NM (nautical miles) is built for attaining sustained speeds of up to 26 knots," the company said.
Commenting on the launch, SN Subrahmanyan, CEO & Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro, said: "This launch is a reaffirmation of our credentials in the ship building space as this is our third major mandate form the Indian Coast Guard under relationship that began with a contract for 36 Interceptor Boats followed by a repeat contract for 18 more Interceptor Boats."
He said 34 of those Interceptors Boats have already been delivered well ahead of contractual delivery schedule and remaining boats have been constructed and ready for delivery.
"The timely launch of the first OPV following that of the Floating Dock (FDN-2) for Indian Navy in June 2017, reaffirms our ability to execute and deliver multiple complex projects on time," he said.
With a favourable policy environment and governments thrust on Make in India, the company expects its contribution in indigenous Defence manufacturing to grow manifold in the coming years, he said.
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