Lankan Navy prepare to receive its largest ship to date

Officials from the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) are  in India to familiarise themselves with a new 105 m offshore patrol vessel (OPV) platform ahead of the platform's official handover, a spokesperson from the service confirmed with Jane's 360.

The vessel is one of two OPVs on order from India's Goa Shipyard Limited. The ship, which will be known as SLNS Sayurala with pennant number P623 once it is in service, was laid down in September 2014 and subsequently launched in mid-2016. The second-of-class, which has been given the pennant number P624, was launched in December that same year.

Officials from the Sri Lanka Navy who are currently in Goa, India ahead of the OPV's official handover in August 2017. (Sri Lanka Navy) Pic courtesy Jane's 360

According to the report besides training and familiarisation activities, SLN officials are also there to validate various parameters of the ship against the service's requirements. Some of the tests and verifications are being done while underway at sea, said the SLN spokesperson. "So far, we are very happy with the ship's performance," he added.

According to Jane's Fighting Ships , the design of the OPV is derived from the Sankalp-class patrol vessels that are currently in service with the Indian Coast Guard. The platform features a full-load displacement of 2,350 tonnes, an overall length of 105.7 m, a beam of 13.6 m, and a hull draught of 3.6 m.

The OPV is powered by two MTU 20V 8000 M71 diesel engines driving two controlled-pitch propellers, and features an endurance of 4,500 n miles at 3 kt. The ship has accommodation for a crew of 118, including 18 officers, and can embark one helicopter on its flight deck.