The Indian Navy will now employ advanced ships constructed with native technology to surveil its coastal regions. To achieve this, Gardenrich Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) will construct four advanced ‘AgioPV’ Offshore Patrol Vessels as part of the project. Construction for the Kills Lion Ceremony began at Gardenrich in Kolkata on Tuesday. Governor CV Anand Bose was present as the chief guest on this occasion.
GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Commodore PR Hari (Retd), along with senior officials from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Indian Air Force (IAF), Indian Army and GRSE, were present at the event. The Indian Navy will receive these four modern ships in 2026. These ships will be used by the Navy for coastal surveillance.
During this event, Governor Dr. CV Anand Bose praised GRSE and showed satisfaction in India’s progress towards becoming a leading force in shipbuilding globally. He characterized it as a remarkable demonstration of India’s vision and action and hailed it as one of the most significant accomplishments in history. Commodore PR Hari mentioned that the accomplishments of GRSE showcase India’s advancements and potential as we are constructing 43 marine platforms.
It is important to mention that the Union Defense Ministry made the decision to construct contemporary ships in 2023. Primarily for monitoring coastal regions, the ministry opted to construct 11 ‘next generation’ and 6 missile ships. Gardenrich Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) is constructing four out of the 11 ‘next generation’ ships. The construction costs for these 11 ships will come to approximately Rs 9,000 crore. They will be utilized for monitoring in coastal regions, guarding water boundaries, stopping smuggling, fighting terrorism, and carrying out rescue missions following disasters.
This vessel ‘AgioPV’ will mark a significant milestone for the Indian Navy. These vessels will be constructed at GRSE using entirely native technology. Their arsenal will include firearms such as a 12.7 mm SRMG (machine gun) and an AK-63. Additionally, these ships will have cameras installed on board. These new ‘next generation’ ships will be larger and more powerful in size than the previous ‘OPV’.
Even during stormy conditions, these only result in minimal damage. They will be approximately 113 meters long and 14.6 meters wide. These vessels can sail at 23 knots (roughly 42 km/h) and cover distances up to 8,500 nautical miles while cruising at 14 knots. A vessel has the capacity for 24 officers and 100 sailors.
The Indian Navy will receive the modern ships in 2026, which will further enhance its strength. The building of these ships began at GRSE in Kolkata on Tuesday. The acquisition of GRSE by the Government of India took place in 1960. Previously, GRSE exported numerous cutting-edge ships to nations such as Mauritius and Seychelles.