Government will acquire a new offshore patrol vessel to replace the CGS Vigilant which has developed problems over years. Delivery of the new vessel is expected by September 2014.
The Indian government provided a one-time grant of $10 million and a line of credit of $48.5 million extended through the EXIM Bank of India to the Mauritian government.
Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam announced that an agreement has already been signed with the government of India for the acquisition of an offshore patrol vessel which is being constructed by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, India.
The CGS Vigilant will be replaced as it requires maintenance and repair works. “The vessel had repeated shaft problems and underwent major repairs on various occasions at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, India,” said Ramgoolam.
Subsequently, in June 2010, repairs amounting to Rs 1.96 million were carried out at the Taylor Smith Ltd as recommended by the board of survey.
The board of survey was set up in July 2007 by the Ministry of Finance for the disposal of the vessel as there had been several unsuccessful attempts to repair it. The police commissioner had recommended some repairs to the vessel in order to obtain a better sale price and that the vessel be disposed of through an international broker. Two unsuccessful tender exercises have been carried out and a third is underway until July 20.