The new generation Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV), INS Sumitra, built by Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Navy, will be formally commissioned by Admiral Robin K Dhowan PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of Naval Staff on 4th September 2014 at Chennai.
The state-of-the-art warship will join Eastern Naval Command at Chennai for nation’s maritime surveillance and coastal security.
INS Sumitra is the Indian Navy’s largest OPV, the fourth in its class and built on in-house design of GSL.
The vessel will help meet the increasing requirements of the Indian Navy for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operations in order to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty and is suitable for monitoring sea lanes of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets.
In order to reinforce the country’s maritime defence, four NOPVs were contracted to GSL. The first, second and third of the series of 105 meter class of NOPV – INS Saryu, Sunayna and Sumedha were earlier handed over to the Indian Navy.
