Panaji, Sep 27 (TOI): Indo-Mauritian defence cooperation received a major boost with the delivery of the first fast patrol vessel, MCGS Victory to the Mauritius Coast Guard on Monday. Designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited, the 50m vessel has been designed for coastal patrolling, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, anti-drug surveillance, anti-poaching operations, and search and rescue operations.

The ship was ceremonially handed over to deputy commissioner of the Mauritius police force K Jhugroo in the presence of commandant of national coast guard captain Saurabh Thakur, commanding officer of MCGS victory lieutenant commander Y Pramod and other officials.

Addressing the gathering, Jhugroo lauded the excellent work by Goa Shipyard and complimented the Vasco-based defence public sector unit for the delivery of the warship for the Mauritius force.

The vessel is fitted with 30 mm CRN-91 Gun, 12.7 mm HMGs and 7.62 mm MMGs besides state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment and is capable of achieving a high speed of 35 knots. Significantly, trials were undertaken in peak monsoon months and the vessel achieved all design parameters.

"Despite all the challenges, including delay of over six months in supply of steel and and being the first ship of the series, we have successfully delivered this ship as per contractual schedule of September 2016, within 20 months of keel laying which is a record in itself, and is in line with the track record of Goa Shipyard," chairman and managing director of Goa Shipyard Shekhar Mital said.

The contract of the vessel was signed on May 17, 2014, and the keel for the vessel was laid on December 18 2014. GSL is the largest exporter of military ships from the Indian subcontinent and is presently executing export orders worth 1,200 crore.