December 13, 2005: India, noting the success of Australia in donating used patrol boats to the coast guards of poor Pacific island nations, has decided to do the same thing in its own neighborhood. India went the Australian's one better, and donated relatively new patrol boats to the Seychelles and the Maldives. Each island nation received one Trinkat class fast attack craft. These boats, the first of their type designed and built in India, first appeared in 2000. The two boats being given away were built in 2001 and 2002. The Trinkat class boats displace 260 tons, are 143 feet long, 23 feet wide, have a top speed of over 50 kilometers an hour, and require a crew of 33. Armament consists of a 30m cannon and several machine-guns. Each boat costs about two million dollars, depending on how elaborate the electronics setup is. Normally, each Trinkat has a radar, GPS and radio. The main mission is coastal patrol, and by donating these ships to the Seychelles and the Maldives, it's easier for India to cooperate for search and rescue or patrol missions. The Indian navy is happy with the Trinkat class, and is building over a dozen of them.
