Navy builds second inshore patrol craft for Coast Guard

Director of Naval Operations Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera ceremonially handed over the second Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) constructed by the Navy to the Sri Lanka Coast Guard at the Port of Colombo, Monday. Designated Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Rear Admiral Ruwan Dias and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Coast Guard were present on the occasion.

The new IPC augments the operational capability of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and allows it to increase its fleet requirements at a low cost saving a substantial amount of foreign exchange to the country.

The craft was constructed at SLNS Mahasen in Welisara under the SLN's Inshore Patrol Craft Construction Project at an approximate cost of 20 million rupees. The new IPC meets the local requirements since it is custom-built as per the specifications of the operator Sri Lanka Coast Guard using indigenous expertise and raw material. The craft is 14.5m in length and 3.5m in width. It has a displacement of 9 tons and is fitted with two engines of 350 HP each.