Indian Navy gets its biggest offshore patrol vessel

The Indian Navy's largest offshore patrol vessel, the INS Sunayna, was Monday handed over to it by the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

The 105-metre vessel will be used by the navy for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operations for preventing infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty, said an official statement issued by the defence ministry-run shipyard.

"This vessel is suitable for monitoring sea lines of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets. Besides, the vessel can be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations," the statement said.

The INS Sunayna is a Sarju class patrol vessel, one of the batch of four which the GSL has been commissioned to build. Two other offshore patrol vessels - INS Sumitra and INS Sumedha - are likely to be handed over to the navy over the next two years.