Sri Lanka based SOLAS Marine has won an order for 80 fast interception craft from the Indian Navy in a deal valued at 3,000 million rupees (67 million Us dollars), a media report said.
The Times of India newspaper said the boats would be delivered over three years. FICs have a crew of between five to seven sailors, travels at around 40 to 50 nautical miles an hour and are armed with a light machine gun.
The boats will be used in a new unit built by the Indian Navy to protect Naval assets and harbhours from militant attacks. Fifteen similar boats have also been bought from Chantier Naval Couach, a French shipyard.
SOLAS Marine Lanka is part of a Dubai-based group according to the firm’s website.
It had bought over Blue Star Marine, a Sri Lankan boat maker that had been in business for 25 years.
