New Delhi: One of India’s four defence shipyards, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), today successfully delivered a Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) to the Indian Coast Guard. This is the second vessel in the series of five FPVs ordered by the Indian Coast Guard from GRSE.

GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral V. K. Saxena and the FPV’s Commanding Officer Commandant (Junior Grade) Sunny Deo signed the protocol of delivery and acceptance in the presence of ICG Deputy Inspector General Sudhir Sahani.

To be commissioned as ICGS Annie Besant, the FPV is a medium-range surface vessel with a length of 50 metre, a width of 7.5 metre and a displacement of around 308 ton and is capable of operations in the maritime zones of India.

These powerful, fuel-efficient platforms are designed to perform multipurpose operations like patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching, and rescue operations. The vessel is designed for a maximum speed of 34 knots with an endurance of more than 1,500 nautical miles.

The vessel is equipped with three main engines of MTU make and built up at GRSE with advanced control systems, ‘Water Jet’ units and an ‘Integrated Bridge System’ integrating all communication and navigation systems. The ship is also fitted with 40/60 gun as the main armament and will also have improved habitability features with fully air-conditioned modular accommodation for 35 personnel.

The entire design of these FPVs has been developed in-house by GRSE as per requirements specified by Indian Coast Guard. The FPV designs, which are exclusive to GRSE, are an improvisation on the Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) built by the shipyard for the Indian Coast Guard a few years ago.

Over the years, GRSE has established capabilities for in-house design and shipbuilding and has made significant contributions to the indigenous warship construction programme in India. The Design R&D Unit of GRSE has been recognized by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.

GRSE, a Miniratna Category 1 warship building company in the country under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, currently has a strong order book position of around Rs 27, 400 crore, under which there are a total of 22 warships at various stages of construction.

At present, GRSE has six projects that are under way — five projects of the Indian Navy and one of the Indian Coast Guard. GRSE is aggressively pursuing the new Request for Proposals (RFP) that have been issued by Ministry of Defence.

GRSE has responded to the RFPs for two Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) and eight Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) for Indian Coast Guard. GRSE is also preparing response to RFPs for construction of 12 Air-Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) for the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Army, and the major project for construction of six New Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) for the Indian Navy.