In News:

The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) ‘Shruti’ was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, marking another step towards strengthening India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities.

About Shruti

• Shruti is an indigenously designed NGOPV intended to augment the Indian Navy’s existing Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs)/Next-generation OPVs. NGOPVs are being constructed concurrently by GRSE, Kolkata, and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).
• The vessel is named ‘Shruti’, referring to the four Vedas, reflecting India’s maritime tradition and cultural heritage. Its crest depicts the Ursa Major constellation and a red-and-white lighthouse.

Capabilities

• NGOPVs are larger and more capable than conventional OPVs, with a displacement of around 3,000 tonnes, a maximum speed of 23 knots, and an endurance of approximately 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots.
• The vessels are designed for multi-domain maritime operations, including:
  • Maritime surveillance
  • Search and rescue
  • Protection of offshore assets
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
  • Anti-piracy operations