Indian Navy’s Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Srishti Launched at Goa Shipyard

Goa, October 27, 2026: India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding programme achieved another milestone with the launch of Srishti (Yard 1283), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on October 27, 2026. The vessel forms part of the Indian Navy’s programme to strengthen maritime surveillance, offshore security, search and rescue capabilities, and operations across India’s extensive maritime areas of interest.

The vessel was ceremonially launched by Sandeepa Sahay in the presence of Vishvajit Sahay, Secretary (Defence Finance), Ministry of Defence. Senior officials from the Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence and Goa Shipyard Limited attended the ceremony, which was conducted in accordance with Indian naval traditions.

Indigenously designed and constructed, Srishti represents another step in India’s efforts to modernise its naval fleet through domestic shipbuilding capabilities. The vessel will eventually join the Indian Navy’s offshore patrol fleet following the completion of its remaining construction activities, trials and commissioning procedures.

Srishti to Strengthen India’s Maritime Surveillance Capabilities

The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel programme is intended to enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to conduct sustained maritime operations across a wide range of missions.

The new vessels are designed to supplement the Navy’s existing Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels (NOPVs), providing additional platforms for maritime surveillance, offshore asset protection and security operations.

Offshore patrol vessels play an important role in monitoring maritime activity and maintaining a naval presence across strategically significant waters. Their operational responsibilities can include surveillance of shipping movements, identification of suspicious maritime activities and support for operations aimed at protecting national maritime interests.

The new generation of patrol vessels will also support search and rescue missions involving distressed vessels and personnel at sea.

Their planned operational roles further include Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), enabling the Navy to respond to emergencies affecting coastal communities and maritime infrastructure.

The vessels are also intended to support anti-piracy operations, an important component of India’s maritime security responsibilities, particularly along international shipping routes connecting the Indian Ocean with other regions.

By expanding the number of available patrol platforms, the programme is expected to improve the Navy’s ability to maintain a presence across multiple maritime areas while supporting specialised missions when required.

Eleven Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels Under Construction

The launch of Srishti forms part of a larger Indian Navy programme involving the construction of 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels at two major Indian shipyards.

Contracts for these vessels were concluded on March 30, 2023, with Goa Shipyard Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.

Under the programme, Goa Shipyard Limited is responsible for constructing seven vessels, while Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers is undertaking the construction of four vessels.

The distribution of construction activities between the two shipyards enables the Navy to utilise established domestic shipbuilding infrastructure while expanding India’s capacity to manufacture modern naval platforms.

According to information previously released by the Ministry of Defence, the new offshore patrol vessels have an approximate displacement of 3,000 tonnes.

These ships are being developed for operations requiring maritime endurance, patrol capabilities and the ability to undertake a variety of naval and humanitarian responsibilities.

The construction programme is expected to strengthen the Navy’s offshore patrol fleet and provide additional flexibility in the deployment of maritime security assets.

Fourth Goa Shipyard Vessel Reaches Launch Milestone

Srishti, designated Yard 1283, is the fourth Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel being constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited under the programme.

The keel-laying ceremony for the vessel took place on June 9, 2025, in the presence of Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, then Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, and senior representatives of Goa Shipyard Limited.

Keel laying is an important milestone in ship construction, marking the formal commencement of the principal hull-building phase.

The vessel’s launch on October 27, 2026, marks the transition to another stage of construction, during which remaining systems integration, outfitting and subsequent testing activities can progress.

Earlier, on March 31, 2026, Goa Shipyard Limited launched Shachi (Yard 1280), the first vessel under the Navy’s 11-ship NGOPV programme.

The simultaneous construction of vessels at Goa and Kolkata reflects a coordinated approach to expanding India’s naval shipbuilding capacity.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers has also achieved important milestones under the programme, including the launch of Sanghmitra in May 2026, Shruti in August 2026 and Shreyas in October 2026.

These developments demonstrate the continued progress of the NGOPV construction programme across both shipyards.

Indigenous Shipbuilding Supports Naval Modernisation

The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel programme is an important component of India’s efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities in naval design, construction and associated maritime technologies.

Goa Shipyard Limited has extensive experience in building offshore patrol vessels and other maritime platforms for India’s defence and security requirements.

The construction of Srishti adds to the shipyard’s portfolio of indigenous naval projects while contributing to the development of specialised industrial capabilities.

Modern naval shipbuilding involves a complex network of engineering activities, including hull construction, propulsion integration, electrical systems, navigation equipment, communication technologies and specialised onboard machinery.

Large shipbuilding programmes can support domestic industries involved in steel fabrication, mechanical engineering, electrical equipment, marine systems and precision manufacturing.

The NGOPV programme aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, which seek to reduce dependence on imported defence equipment and strengthen domestic industrial capacity.

The continuing construction of naval platforms at Indian shipyards also provides opportunities for technology development, workforce training and improvements in shipbuilding processes.

Protecting India’s Offshore Energy and Maritime Infrastructure

The operational relevance of offshore patrol vessels extends beyond conventional naval surveillance.

India’s maritime domain contains important economic infrastructure, including offshore oil and gas installations, commercial shipping routes, ports and other strategic maritime assets.

The protection of these facilities is an important consideration in maintaining maritime security and ensuring the continuity of economic activity.

Offshore patrol vessels provide platforms capable of undertaking surveillance and security-related duties in waters where continuous monitoring is essential.

The planned capabilities of the NGOPV fleet will allow the Indian Navy to deploy additional vessels for protecting offshore assets and supporting maritime security operations.

Their search and rescue and humanitarian assistance roles will also contribute to the Navy’s ability to respond to emergencies arising from maritime accidents, severe weather and natural disasters.

Such capabilities are particularly relevant in the Indian Ocean Region, where commercial maritime activity intersects with important international sea lanes and strategic interests.

Srishti Reflects India’s Cultural Heritage

The new vessel has been named Srishti, a Sanskrit word meaning creation or the act of creating.

The name reflects the Indian Navy’s practice of drawing inspiration from India’s languages, cultural traditions and historical heritage when naming naval platforms.

The selection of Srishti also carries significance in the context of indigenous shipbuilding, representing the development of modern maritime capabilities through Indian design and manufacturing expertise.

Other vessels in the NGOPV programme have similarly received names connected with Indian cultural and linguistic traditions.

The naming convention forms part of the Navy’s broader institutional heritage, linking contemporary maritime platforms with India’s civilisational identity.

Another Step Towards a Stronger Indigenous Naval Fleet

The launch of Srishti represents an important construction milestone, although the vessel has not yet entered operational service.

Following launch, the ship must complete the remaining construction, installation, testing and acceptance processes before it can be commissioned into the Indian Navy.

Once inducted, the new-generation patrol vessels are expected to increase the Navy’s capacity to undertake maritime surveillance, search and rescue, anti-piracy operations, offshore infrastructure protection and humanitarian missions.

The continued progress of the 11-vessel programme also highlights the expanding role of Indian shipyards in meeting the operational requirements of the country’s maritime forces.

As India works to strengthen its presence across the Indian Ocean Region, domestically constructed naval platforms such as Srishti will contribute to the long-term development of a more capable and self-reliant maritime security architecture.

The October 27 launch at Goa Shipyard Limited therefore represents both a milestone in the Indian Navy’s fleet modernisation programme and another achievement in India’s indigenous defence shipbuilding efforts.

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References:

1. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. “Launch of Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (Yard 1283, Srishti).” Press Information Bureau, 27 October 2026.
2. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. “Keel Laying of Fourth Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (Yard 1283) at Goa Shipyard Limited.” Press Information Bureau, 9 June 2025. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2135188
3. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. “Launch of First Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (Yard 1280, Shachi).” Press Information Bureau, 31 March 2026. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2247343

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