New Delhi, Jan 27 : The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has delivered a second lot of three Floating Border Out-Post (FBOPs) vessels to the Border Security Force (BSF) on Republic Day. The FBOPs with an overall length of 46 meters and breadth of 12 meters are designed for deployment in Inland waters of India, specifically in the creek area of Kutch (Gujarat) and Sunderbans of West Bengal and they act as strategic base stations at the borders.
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his happiness over the delivery. “Made in India, Made to Defend India ! Wonderful gift to the nation on Republic Day. CSL built three Floating Border Out-Post vessels which sailed off with BSF personnel to the deployment destination at Indo-Bangladesh border, on 73rd Republic day,” the minister wrote on Twitter on Thursday. The minister also shared pictures of the FBOPs on his Twitter handle.
The CSL is building nine FBOPs for BSF. Three more vessels as per the contract are in an advanced stage of construction and will be delivered in the coming months, the official spokesperson of Cochin Shipyard Limited told UNI. The first lot of three Floating Border Out-Post was delivered to the BSF in November last year. The formal acceptance and protocol signing ceremony of the vessel was held in New Delhi. Mukesh Tyagi, DIG Water wing of BSF had signed the agreement with Shri Neelakandhan AN, Chief General Manager, Cochin Shipyard in the presence of CG Rajini Kaanthan IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2019 had placed orders for design, construction and supply of 9 FBOPs for the Water wing of Border Security Force.
The vessels are designed in-house by CSL and classed by Indian Register of Shipping and each FBOP vessel is designed with stowage arrangements for four fast patrol boats, which can be launched and hoisted using its own davit system, CSL said in a statement issued earlier. The vessel shall act as the floating base for the flotilla of fast patrol boats. The vessel is to supply Petrol, Fresh Water and provisions to the smaller boats.
