MDL lays keel of fifth Indian Coast Guard vessel, begins work on eighth
· Free Press Journal
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), a Navratna DPSU, under the Ministry of defence, Government of India, achieved two significant milestones on October 16, 2026 in the Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) project for the Indian Cost Guard (ICG). The Keel of the fifth ship, Y-16505 was laid, and the plate cutting ceremony of the eighth ship, Y-16508, was held at MDL. Production activity for the fifth ship began on 30 Oct 2025.
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DIG Manish Verma, CSO (Tech), CGC(WS) presided over the Keel laying and DIG Prajapati Thakur, OiC CGSD(MBI) presided over the Plate cutting ceremony in the presence of Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Kumar, Executive Director (P), and Mr. A Vinod, Executive Director (P&PC), MDL along with senior officials from ICG, Classification society (ABS & IRS) and MDL.
MDL has a contract with the Indian Coast Guard to design, build and deliver fourteen Fast Patrol Vessels, at a total project value of Rs1070.47 crores. Each vessel will have a waterjet propulsion system powered by high-speed diesel engines, with a contractual speed of more than 33 knots. The vessels will be built under dual classification from ABS and IRS.
The Vessels are designed as high-speed craft. Their primary roles will be coastal patrolling and fisheries protection, and each will carry small high-speed boat for search and rescue in shallow and uncharted waters. In wartime, the vessels can switch to roles such as providing communication link, escort coastal convoys, logistic support, medical evacuation and supplement Indian Naval resources.
The Keel laying and plate cutting ceremonies mark another important step in building these vessels. They also reflect MDL’s commitment to delivering modern indigenously built platforms in line with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.