india

Updated: Apr 29, 2019 21:31 IST

The defence ministry on Monday awarded a Rs 6,311-crore contract to public sector shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) to supply anti-submarine warfare boats to the navy, a ministry spokesperson said.

Of the eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASWSWC) on order, the yard will deliver the first ship in 42 months followed by two boats every year, a ministry release said. It added that the project has to be concluded in 84 months. The current projects being executed by the yard include stealth frigates, anti-submarine warfare corvettes and survey vessels for the navy and fast patrol vessels for the coast guard.

The contract has been awarded five years after the navy issued a request for a proposal to public and private sector shipyards.

The ASWSWC will have a displacement of 750 tonnes and a top speed of 25 knots. Carrying a crew of 57 men, the vessels “shall have the capability to interdict/destroy sub-surface targets in coastal waters,” the release said.

It added that the boats can also be deployed in a day/night search and rescue role in coastal areas, lay mines and also tackle hostile aircraft.