Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) on Monday handed over the second state-of-the-art Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) INS Sunayna to the Indian Navy.
Rear Adm (retd) Vineet Bakhshi, VSM, chairman and managing director of Goa shipyard handed over the vessel to Cdr Aftab Ahmed Khan, commanding officer designate of INS Sunayna during a ceremony in Goa, reports the Times of India.
This 105 meter vessel is the second in the series of four new class NOPVs designed and built by GSL for the Indian Navy. The vessel is suitable for monitoring sea lines of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets. Besides, the vessel can be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations.
INS Sunayna is powered by twin diesel engines and fitted with state-of-the-art Navigation, Communication and Electronic Warfare Equipment. One 76mm SRGM two 30mm CIWS Guns with fire control system together with six Chaff launchers form the main weapon package of the vessel. Sporting a flight deck, the vessel supports embarkation and operation of a multi role helicopter.
The vessel accommodates 8 officers and 105 sailors. With 25% reserve fuel capacity and an extended mission duration capability of 60 days, the vessel is designed to operate all year round.
The other two NOPVs (INS Sumitra and INS Sumedha) are scheduled for delivery over the next two years.
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World Maritime News Staff, September 5, 2013