Navy warmly welcomes its brand-new AOPV at Colombo harbour

The Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) constructed at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the mission requirement of the Sri Lanka Navy, arrived at the Colombo harbour this morning,Navy said. Upon its arrival at the Colombo port, the brand-new vessel that is expected to join the SLN fleet, was warmly received by the Navy in compliance with naval traditions.

This significant occasion was attended by Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva, Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Niraja Attygalle, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Rear Admiral Kapila Samaraweera, Director General Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Rear Admiral Upul Ekanayake and a cross section of officers from the Naval Headquarters and Western Naval Command.

This latest inclusion will go down in the annals of Sri Lanka Navy as the first ever brand-new OPV acquisition of the sea-going arm of the country. The ship underwent various trials and tests before she set sail to her final destination, Sri Lanka to affirm her operational and patrolling capabilities. Meanwhile, the delivery completed a USD 66.55 million procurement of state of the art vessel from the Indian shipbuilder GSL.

The vessel saw the light of day at the GSL with the signing of the contract on 17th February 2014. The agreement included two Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPVs) for the Sri Lanka Navy and the production of the first AOPV began on 15th May 2014. The Keel of the first vessel was laid on 10th Sep 2014 and was ceremonially launched on 10th June 2016.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe marked the official taking over of this state of the art ship at the GSL on 22nd July, during a ceremony presided over by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in India, H. E. (Mrs.) Chitranganee Wagiswara.  The twin sister of this AOPV which is currently being built by the same shipbuilder is also scheduled to join SLN fleet in the next year.