GSL Patrol Boats for Mauritius Coast Guard

Mauritius is an island nation in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The country has just 2,040 square kilometers of land on several islands but a huge exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.3 million square kilometers. The major challenge of patrolling this vast area of the Indian Ocean became somewhat more manageable with the delivery of the final five of ten Fast Interceptor Boats designed and built by the Government of India owned Shipyard M/s Goa Shipyard Ltd.

The Mauritius National Coast Guard will use the boats to enhance their abilities to provide effective surveillance for fisheries and customs, as well as search and rescue. The aluminum boats are 14.3-meters long with a beam of four meters and a molded depth of .9 meters. A pair of Cummins QSC 8.3 liter engines each of which delivers 500 Metric HP at 2600 RPM provides their power.

 This model of engine can be rated for 500 to 600 MHP (equal to 493 to 592 BHP or 368 to 441 kW). The engines provide an industry leading power density with their four-valve-per-cylinder configuration and high-pressure common-rail fuel system.

The engines in the Mauritius boats drive Rolls Royce water jets through ZF 286 gears. This gives the boats a top speed of 35 knots and a 20-knot cruising speed with an endurance of over 300 km. With a four-person crew, the boats can each carry up to eight passengers or 14 tons of cargo.

A media release from the Mauritius government said, “The successful delivery of the boats as per the contract between Mauritius and the Indian defence shipyard is a valuable addition to the long list of partnership projects between India and Mauritius in the domain of maritime security and marks another milestone in the Indo-Mauritian cooperation and friendship.
“It also adds another chapter to the history of Mauritius in its quest for self-sufficiency and preparedness towards ensuring maritime security in its vast maritime zones.”