The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) marked a key milestone in its fleet modernisation programme with the keel laying of the second Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) and plate cutting of the fifth FPV under its 14-vessel project at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, on 30 October 2025. On the same day, the girder laying ceremonies for the second and third indigenously built Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) were held at Chowgule’s Rassaim Yard in Goa.
The contract for the design and construction of 14 FPVs was signed on 24 January 2024. The vessels will incorporate 60 percent indigenous content and are equipped with domestically developed gearboxes from Triveni, Mysore, and water jets from MJP India. Each FPV will have a displacement of approximately 340 tons and will be deployed for coastal security, search and rescue, and law enforcement operations.
The FPVs are designed to feature advanced machinery, including artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance systems and multipurpose drones, aimed at enhancing operational readiness and efficiency. The vessels form part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime security and surveillance capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region.
In a parallel development, the ICG’s ACV project, contracted on 24 October 2024, has entered a new phase with the girder laying of two additional craft at Chowgule’s facility. Based on the Griffon Hoverwork (UK) design, the six ACVs under construction will include over 50 percent indigenous content. The ACVs are intended for high-speed patrolling, reconnaissance, interdiction, and all-weather rescue missions in shallow waters and open seas.
Once completed, the FPVs and ACVs are expected to significantly expand the Coast Guard’s operational reach and flexibility across India’s coastline and island territories. The projects also align with the national objective of increasing self-reliance in defence manufacturing through indigenous production.
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited is a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Defence engaged in the construction of warships and submarines, while Chowgule Shipyard Private Limited is a Goa-based shipbuilding company specialising in small and medium-sized vessels.