By delivering an offshore patrol vessel to Mauritius, India on Saturday exported its first warship.
"This is the first time that the export barrier has been breached. This would be the first among the long line of ships that we hope to export to various parts of the world," Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said during the warship handing over ceremony.
Built by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata, the $58.5 million 'CGS Barracuda' measures 74.10 m in length. It is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 22 knots with an approximate displacement of 1350 tonnes.
Describing it as a red-letter day in the history of ship-building in India, Singh said it proves that the industry has come of age. When asked, he said the Goa shipyard has also got orders from Sri Lanka for making offshore patrol vessels.
GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral A K Verma said they were getting enquires for building similar ships for other friendly nations. They have so far made 92 warships for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. "After our modernisation we have increased our capacity to meet the requirements of our defence forces without overrun in time and cost," Verma said.
