L&T launches offshore patrol vessel for Indian Coast Guard

Larsen & Toubro launched the Lead Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of a series of seven OPVs for the Indian Coast Guard on 27 October, which was designed in-house, from concept and is the first OPV class vessel for the Indian Coast Guard that has been built by a private sector yard “in a record time frame.” The OPV named Vikram was launched by Jyoti Murthy in the presence of Additional Director General of Coast Guard, VSR Murthy.

L&T was entrusted by the Ministry of Defence to design and build seven OPVs for an order value of Rs. 1432 crores in March 2015. The order stipulated delivery of the first OPV within 36 months from signing of the contract i.e. by March-2018 and subsequent vessels at intervals of 6 months. However, with the construction of multiple OPVs progressing on or ahead of schedule, all are planned to be delivered ahead of the contracted delivery dates.