Modi commissions India-built ship in Mauritius

Port Louis, March 12 , 2015: An India-built patrol vessel, Coast Guard Ship Barracuda, the first such ship to be exported by India, was commissioned here on Thursday by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Anerood Jugnauth. Commissioning the vessel, Modi, who climbed on board the ship later, said the event reflects the bilateral partnership "that has stood the test of time". Modi said the ship was a "symbol of our shared commitment to peace and security in Indian Ocean - our common maritime home". He said the Barracuda would protect the Mauritian islands and waters and help in times of disasters and emergencies. "But, she will do more than that. She will also help make our Indian Ocean safer and more secure. In doing so, Mauritius will fulfill an important international responsibility. Because, the Indian Ocean is critical to the future of the world," he said. The Mauritian government had placed an order for an Indian Offshore Patrol Vessel in 2011. The Barracuda is the first such ship that India has exported. The ship was constructed by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. in Kolkata. It weighs 1,350 tonnes, and is 74 metres in length. It was acquired by Mauritian authorities at Rs.1.9 billion. Its maximum speed is recorded at 22 knots and it is equipped with a helipad.