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Wednesday, 19 July 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lankan Navy will soon commission its largest warship, which has been built by India’s Goa Shipyards Ltd. for the Sri Lanka Navy under a $ 155 million contract inked four years ago for two such vessels.
The manufacturer, State-owned Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL), will ceremoniously deliver the first advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) on 22 July, the Hindustan Times reported.
The ship is expected to be commissioned into the Sri Lankan Navy on 2 August.
The state-of-the-art ship, which measures 105 metres in length and 13.6 metres in width, has been built at a cost of nearly $ 74 million.
The vessel also features a helipad which is capable of landing a helicopter and possesses the displacement capacity of 2,350 tonnes as well. In addition, it offers spacious accommodation for the comfort of 18 officers and 100 sailors. Moreover, the vessel has an endurance of 4,500 nautical miles in terms of carrying out surveillance operations.
“It will be the largest warship to be operated by the Sri Lankan Navy. It is also the largest warship to be exported by an Indian shipyard. The step will deepen naval ties between the two countries,” Rear Admiral Shekhar Mital told HT from Goa.
The shipyard has beaten the deadline for delivering the warship due to which the Sri Lankan Navy will induct the vessel almost three months ahead of the scheduled delivery. Sri Lanka will get the second warship in February 2018, again three months ahead of schedule.
The second ship, which measures 105.7 metres in length and 13.6 m in width, features a helipad that is capable of landing a helicopter. It also possesses the displacement capacity of 2,350 tonnes. The ships are capable of reaching a top speed of 25 knots.
Such patrol vessels carry out several roles including fleet support operations, maritime surveillance, defence of offshore installations and escorting high-value ships.
