ironman
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P K Balachandran
First Published : 29 Aug 2009 03:03:00 AM IST
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COLOMBO: An Indian-built Offshore Petrol Vessel (OPV) formally joined the Sri Lankan navy in Trincomalee on Friday.
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa handed over the commissioning warrant to the Commanding Officer of the vessel, Captain SA Weerasinghe, at the Eastern Command dockyard.
Thanking the Government of India for facilitating the acquisition of SLNS Sayurala, Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that this gesture of goodwill would strengthen bilateral relations and build better cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The OPV carrying the number P623, is the former Indian Coast Guard vessel Vigraha. It was built by Mazagon Dockyard Ltd, at Mumbai in 1990. With a length of 74.10m and breath of 11.40m, it has a speed of a maximum 21.5 knots. Its draught is 3.58m maximum.
The net-registered tonnage is 750 tons and gross-registered tonnage is 1247 tons.
The vessel is equipped with marine surveillance radar and communication equipment for the assigned role in Sri Lankas exclusive economic zone, the Sri Lankan navy said in a press release.