Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels of Indian Navy and Coast Guard : Updates & Discussions

Did it?

INS Shivalik
Laid down - July 2001
Launched - April 2003
(1 year, 9 months)

INS Nilgiri
Laid down - December 2017
Launched - September 2019
(1 year, 9 months)

Our 'launches' happen without any of the sensors & weapons so they can't be an excuse if we're only counting the time up to the launch.
I was talking about time between laid down to commissioning. Shivalik class took on average 9 years each. INS Nilgiri, if delivered by late 2024, would have taken 7 years.

That's not bad given the Nilgiris are larger & carry a sensor package that would out-match the Shivaliks any day.
I don't know how or where they've messed up, but they have.
This is true. There was also talk of follow up orders of the Niligiri class. I was hoping that would materialize by now. Can't be doing piecemeal orders and expecting rapid improvements in the shipbuilding industry.
Really wish we had a Pvt yard like L&T Kattupalli building major surface combatants.
The PSU shipyard nomination system is terrible & it needs to go. At least we should have used private builders to build out the hull & superstructures, then let the PSU shipyards to outfitting. Instead, we have wasted that capacity. And now with the lack of follow-on orders we are also wasting PSU shipyard's capacities.
 
Screenshot_2024-08-08-22-15-51-45_f541918c7893c52dbd1ee5d319333948.jpg
 
1733791000499.png


Pipavav shipyard under the new ownership still lists NOPVs in their inventory with two 83% complete. Navy should try to rejuvenate the program, it should be cheap. Or try to find export customers.

naval3.jpg

naval5.jpg
 
If export is not possible then let ICG grab up the 2 opvs and training ship. And scrap the rest 3 50% vessels.

As much as I would love to see these ships in service, best resolution is scrappage. ICG and IN have both moved on and replacement classes are already on order or in planning stage.

ICG NG-OPV under construction - 6 units @ mere 270 Crores per vessel:

1735117571011.png


The vessels will be designed as High Speed craft under Class HSC rules. The vessel shall be used primarily for Coastal and Offshore patrolling and Policing Maritime zones of India. The primary role also includes Fisheries Protection, Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Piracy, Search and Rescue operations, Ocean Surveillance and Monitoring of Sea lines of communication (SLOCs).
 
INDIAN COAST GUARD YEAR END REVIEW

Launches

  • Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) is constructing two Pollution Control Vessels for Indian Coast Guard. It is for the first time that these vessels are being designed and constructed indigenously. The ship was launched in August 2024 and named as ‘Samudra Pratap’ in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri.
  • GSL is constructing eight Fast Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard. The first two ships were launched in October 2024 and named as Adamya and Akshar in the presence of DG, ICG Paramesh Sivamani.
Procurement

  • Contract with BEL: In January 2024, ICG signed a procurement contract of 267 V/UHF Software Defined Radios portable device for ICG ships and establishments with BEL, Bengaluru at the cost of Rs 90.71 crore.
  • ALH Mk-III: Contract for procurement of nine ALH Mk-III Helicopters for ICG was concluded with HAL, Bengaluru in March 2024 for an amount of Rs 4,079.78 crore.
Major Projects:

  • Inauguration of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai in August 2024 by Raksha Mantri.
  • Inauguration of ICG Jetty at Vadinar on March 2024 by Raksha Mantri.
  • Inauguration of CGAE Puducherry and Regional Marine Pollution Response Centre in August 2024 by Raksha Mantri.
  • Inauguration of Hovercraft Maintenance Unit at Okha in March 2024 by Defence Secretary.
Anti-smuggling & Narcotics

  • In 2024, ICG seized over 6,016 kilograms of methamphetamine, an INMARSAT satellite phone, Myanmar currency worth 633,850 Kyat, 4.9 Kgs of 24 Carat Gold bars with a market value of approx Rs 3.43 crore, 1.38 lakh kgs of contrabands which include sea cucumber, insecticides, Kendu Leaves, Betel Nuts etc. at a total market value of approx Rs 24.29 crore. ICG in six joint operations with NCB, DRI, ATS Gujarat and A&N Police seized 438.04 Kgs of narcotics worth Rs 7,133.60 crore.
Coastal Security

  • Coastal Surveillance Network: Chain of Static Sensors has been setup along the coastline for enhanced electronic surveillance (46 Radar Stations setup under Phase-I and another 38 Radar Stations being setup under Phase-II).
  • ‘Sagar Kavach’: In order to enhance coordination between Coastal Security stakeholders and validate the Coastal Security SOPs promulgated by ICG, ‘Sagar Kavach’ is conducted biannually in each Coastal State/UT. A total of 16 Coastal Security exercises have been conducted since January 2024. In addition, a total of 31 Coastal Security Operations have also been conducted.
  • Boarding Operations: Boarding Operations are undertaken by ICG ships on patrol for implementing maritime laws and to create deterrence against inimical elements. A total of 21,873 boarding operations have been conducted since January 2024.
Aid to Civil Authority

  • In January 2024, ICG received information regarding grounding of MV Swasthya Sathi with approx. 400 pilgrims onboard in position 12 nautical miles North-east of Sagar Lt. ICG immediately launched Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) from Sagar Island & Haldia to provide assistance to the grounded ferry. ICG Dornier was also launched from Kolkata for monitor the situation. A total of 182 devotees were evacuated by ICG ACVs.
  • In July 2024, ICG launched operation ‘Op Sahayata 02/24’ to provide assistance during major landslide at Meppadi Village, Wayanad District, Kerala. ICG ALH MK-III and Disaster Relief Teams assisted in search and evacuation of stranded persons/ recovery of deceased bodies. Additionally, ICG teams also distributed life-saving equipment, relief stores/ material, medicines and freshwater in the affected areas.