On 27 June 2026 Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the ‘Made in India’ Fast Patrol Vessel PS LESPWAR to the Seychelles Coast Guard during his State Visit.
Vessel Specifications
- Type: Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV).
- Builder: Goa Shipyard Limited (Indian public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Defence).
- Name origin: “Lespwar” means “hope” in Creole.
- Speed: Capable of exceeding 30 knots.
- Primary roles: Maritime surveillance, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrolling, search-and-rescue and interdiction.
Transfer Details & Associated Assistance
- Date and place: Handover on 27 June 2026 at Seychelles Coast Guard Base, Victoria.
- Complementary equipment: Six ambulances, 10 utility vehicles and five laser radial boats gifted alongside the FPV.
- Policy framework: Transfer executed under India’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Strategic and Operational Relevance
- EEZ operations: Suited for sustained patrolling within a coastal state’s 200-nautical-mile EEZ under UNCLOS.
- Regional footprint: Enhances Seychelles’ capacity for maritime domain awareness in the western Indian Ocean.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Goa Shipyard Limited: Established as a defence PSU; builds naval and coastguard vessels for India and export customers.
- EEZ legal basis: Exclusive Economic Zone rights and duties are codified in UNCLOS, extending to 200 nautical miles from baselines.
- Seychelles independence: Republic of Seychelles became independent in 1976; strategic island state in the western Indian Ocean.