Six patrol boats for the Coast Guard would cost Rs. 1,600 crore
On Wednesday, the Indian Coast Guard will receive six next-generation offshore patrol boats from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in Mumbai according to a deal inked by the Ministry of Defence and MDL. At a total cost of Rs 1,614.89 crore, the deal was made under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) (Indigenously conceived, developed, and produced) category. The defense ministry stated in a statement that two of the six boats being purchased would complement the Indian Coast Guard force and the other four would replace the old offshore gasoline tankers now in service.
According to the statement, the government’s emphasis on maritime security is being strengthened and the Indian Coast Guard’s capabilities are being enhanced by the procurement of these patrol boats. According to the government, these cutting-edge, contemporary ships would be vital “in enhancing surveillance, law enforcement, search and rescue, maritime pollution response, and other capabilities such as humanitarian assistance by the Indian Coast Guard.”
“These 115m offshore patrol vessels would be equipped with multi-purpose drones, Artificial Intelligence capability, and wirelessly controlled remote water rescue craft lifebuoy, enabling greater flexibility and operational edge to the Coast Guard to face new age multidimensional challenges,” the defense ministry said, describing the high-tech advanced features and equipment.
These multi-role boats are anticipated to be delivered in 66 months and will be conceived, produced, and constructed locally by MDL. The agreement satisfies “Aatmanirbhar Bharat’s” goals of enhancing the country’s capacity for manufacturing ships domestically, supporting marine commerce, and encouraging the development of related sectors, particularly the MSME sector. Additionally, the initiative will lead to the creation of jobs and knowledge inside the nation.
When the Indian Coast Guard was established in February 1977, it had a fleet of just seven ships for monitoring in Indian seas and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.01 million square kilometers. It now consists of 184 surface vessels. The Indian Coast Guard performs “safety and protection” duties in the Indian seas as a supplementary service to maritime law enforcement.
