MDL-class offshore patrol vessel

Last updated

Class overview
Builders Mazagon Dock, Mumbai, India
OperatorsIndian Coast Guard flag.svg  Indian Coast Guard
Preceded by Vikram class
Cost
  • ₹ 1,614.89 crore (US$190 million)
  • ₹ 269.14 crore (US$32 million) per unit (FY 2023)
Built2024 – present
Planned6
Building4
Completed0
General characteristics
Type Offshore Patrol vessel
Displacement3,000  t (2,953 long tons)
Length117 m (383 ft 10 in)
Beam16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)
Draught<4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • Controllable pitch propeller-based propulsion system
Speed
  • >23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) (maximum)
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (cruise)
Range6,000  nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) with 25% reserve fuel
Endurance60 days
Complement11 officers and 110 sailors
Armament1 × main gun
Aircraft carried1 × 10  t (9.8 long tons) helicopter with facility for UAVs
Aviation facilities Helipad with enclosed hangar (1 × multi-role helicopter or UAVs)

The MDL-class offshore patrol vessel is a series of six offshore patrol vesssel (OPVs) being built for the Indian Coast Guard by Mazagon Dock in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Contents

History

The MDL-class offshore patrol vessels are a follow on of Vikram class. Unlike, the previous offshore patrol vessels in service with the coast guard, the MDL class will be the largest patrol vessel with a length of 115 m (377 ft 4 in) and a displacement of 3,000  t (2,953 long tons ). [1] [2]

The contract for the offshore patrol vessel was signed by Ministry of Defense for Indian Coast Guard on 20 December 2023 with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. The total value of the contract was kept at ₹ 1,614.89 crore (equivalent to ₹17 billionorUS$200 million in 2023) or ₹ 269.14 crore (US$32 million) per unit (FY 2023). [3]

The primary aim for the procurement is to bolster Indian Coast Guard capability to carry our constabulary role and further strengthen search and rescue, pollution response, human and disaster response, anti smuggling and anti-piracy, ocean surveillance and monitoring of Sea lines of communication (SLOCs). and other coast guard duties. The other major benefit from the project is to fortify marine policing and boost the local shipbuilding capability by manufacturing the ship in-house by Mazagon Dock. [4]

Four of these ships will replace the aging Samar class and the remaining two will further bolster the Indian coast guard capability. [1]

Design

MDL-class vessels have a length of 115 metres (377 ft 4 in) and a beam of 16.4 metres (53 ft 10 in) with a design speed of over >23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph). These vessels will be the largest ships in the Indian Coast Guard fleet at around 3,000  t (2,953 long tons ). [5]

These vessels will be equipped with twin Controllable Pitch Propellers driven by 2 diesel engines providing 9000 kW of combined power. The ship will have a provision of a Helo deck and helo hangar for stowage and operation of one integral HAL Dhruv with an all up weight (AUW) of 6  t (5.9 long tons ) with further provision to house a 10  t (9.8 long tons ) helicopter along with UAVs. [5]

The ship will be equipped with 2 self contained articulated cranes of 2 tons lifting capacity along with 2 external fire fighting pumps with 1200 TPH capacity each. To tackle newer challenges these vessels will house multipurpose Drones, AI capability, and wireless controlled remote water rescue craft Lifebuoy, etc. enabling greater flexibility and operational edge to the ICG. [5] [6]

Some of the capabilities that the class of Offshore Patrol Vessels introduces to the Coast Guard fleet includes AI-based predictive maintenance, Remote Piloted Drones, Integrated Bridge System (IBS), and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). [7]

These Multi-role State-of-the-Art vessels will be sea worthy to transits on all headings upto sea state 7. These ships will have dual certification of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). These ships will adhere to MARPOL standards and have a service life of 30 years. [5]

Construction

The contract for the offshore patrol vessel was signed by Ministry of Defense on 20 December 2023 with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. The total value of the contract was kept at ₹ 1,614.89 crore (equivalent to ₹17 billionorUS$200 million in 2023) The deal has a completion timeline of 66 months. The primary aim is to augment coast guard capability by introducing state of the facility and longer endurance to better tackle challenges arising at sea. [1]

Construction began with the plate cutting ceremony for the first ship (Y16401) on 31 May 2024 with dignitaries from Indian Coast Guard gracing the occasion. [8] [9] Keel for the first OPV was laid down on 22 July 2025. [7]

The work on the second ship (Y16402) began on 21 December 2024 coinciding with the construction of first FPV of Indian Coast Guard. [10] [11]

Commencement of the production of the third vessel (Y16403) was done along with the second vessel of FPV project on 24 March 2025. [12]

The construction of the fourth OPV began on 20 August 2025. [13]

The delivery of the project has been scheduled from 2027 onward, with the delivery of first and second ship is slated on May 2027 and December 2027 respectively. [1] [10]

Ships in class

NameYard Pennant No. Steel CuttingKeel LaidLaunchedCommissionedHome PortStatus
Indian Coast Guard flag.svg  Indian Coast Guard
—16401—31 May 2024 [8] 22 July 2025 [7] —May 2027—Under construction
—16402—21 December 2024 [11] ——December 2027 [11] —
—16403—24 March 2025 [12] ————
—16404—20 August 2025 [14] ————
—16405——————Ordered
—16406——————
  either scheduled or estimated dates

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ministry of Defence signs Rs 1,614.89 crore contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders Ltd for procurement of six Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard". PIB (Press release). 20 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Indian MoD taps MDL for Six Next Generation OPVs for Coast Guard". Naval News. 20 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "MoD signs contract with GSL for construction of two Pollution Control Vessels for Indian Coast Guard". PIB (Press release). 22 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "PLATE CUTTING CEREMONY OF FIRST FAST PATROL VESSEL AND SECOND NGOPV AT MDL" (PDF). MDL. 19 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR ACQUISITION OF 06 OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS (OPVs)" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "Mazagon Dock, Cochin Shipyard bag big orders from Ministry of Defence". Moneycontrol. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Keel Laid for First Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel of ICG at MDL Mumbai" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 22 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Steel-cutting ceremony for first Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel of ICG held at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai". PIB (Press release). 31 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Construction begins on next-gen OPVs for Coast Guard". The Hindu. 1 June 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Starts Production of Fast Patrol Vessel and Offshore Patrol Vessel for Coast Guard". The Machine Maker. 21 December 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "MDL commences production of the first Fast Patrol Vessel". PSU Watch. 21 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 "COMMNCEMENT OF PLATE CUTTING CEREMONY FOR INDIAN COAST GUARD FPV02(Yard -16502), NGOPV03(Yard - 16403)". MDL. 24 March 2025.
  13. ↑ "Plate Cutting Ceremony of ICG's Fourth NGOPV Held at MDL, Mumbai" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  14. ↑ "Plate Cutting Ceremony of ICG's Fourth NGOPV Held at MDL, Mumbai" (Press release). Press Information Bureau. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
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