Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel Shachi Launched At GSL Goa

06 Apr 2026 CW Team

Yard 1280 Shachi, the first of 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs), was launched at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Goa on 31 March 2026 in a ceremony presided over by Mrs Shagun Sobti and attended by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. The launch followed naval traditions and was attended by senior dignitaries from the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence. The vessel is the initial unit in a programme to deliver a class of advanced offshore patrol vessels.

The construction of NGOPVs is being carried out concurrently at Goa Shipyard Limited and at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata. These indigenously built ships will augment the existing 10 offshore patrol vessels and naval offshore patrol vessels to undertake multi-domain operations such as defence and surveillance, search and rescue, protection of offshore assets, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and anti-piracy missions. The programme is intended to enhance operational flexibility and sustained maritime presence.

The naming convention for the class draws on Indian mythology, with the first ship named Shachi to convey assistance and support. The crest for the class depicts the Ursa Major constellation alongside a red and white lighthouse motif to symbolise navigational vigilance. The design and construction reflect an emphasis on indigenous capability development and platform modernisation.

The launch was described by officials as a milestone in the Indian Navy's drive towards indigenous shipbuilding and was linked to the Government of India's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative. The programme is expected to strengthen maritime security and support a range of peacetime and contingency operations. Further units will be commissioned as construction advances at both shipyards.

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