Mangaluru: ICGS Vikram, the first in class of seven new-generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) built by Larsen and Toubro contracted by the ministry of defence (MoD) in March 2015 under the government’s initiative of ‘Make in India,’ will be based in Mangaluru.

The defence ship, after its keel was laid in March 2016, was completed in just 25 months of build period, including trials and commissioning. The commissioning of indigenously designed and built ICGS Vikram has rendered a befitting curtain-raiser to ‘Make in India’ theme of DEFEXPO, which is being organised in Chennai. The OPV project has scored many firsts in India’s nearly six decades of defence shipbuilding history, a ministry statement, said.

The entire design and construction of OPVs has been carried out in-house by a private sector shipyard – L&T Shipyard. The vessel which is approximately 97m long, 15m wide, has 3.6m draught, 2,140 tonne displacement and a range of 5,000 NM. It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots. The OPVs are built with Integrated Platform Management System to enable special control capabilities, generally integrated in larger warships like frigates and destroyers.

ICGS Vikram class OPVs are long-range surface ships, capable of operation in maritime zones of India, including island territories and equipped to handle helicopter operations. The role of an OPV is to conduct coastal and offshore patrolling, policing maritime zones of India, control and surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations with limited wartime roles.