Indian Navy formally handed over CGS Huravee to Maldives National Defence Force on Wednesday, after completing a USD four million refit at the Vishakapatnam Naval Dockyard in India.

CGS Huravee underwent a nine-month long refit amid the Covid-19 induced lockdown and restrictions in the neighboring nation.

Defence Minister Mariya Didi thanked the Indian government for the assistance “even during these tough time of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

Noting that 99.78 percent of the Maldives territory is covered by water, Mariya stressed that the services of Coast Guard ships are needed to keep the public safe.

The Indian High Commission in Maldives tweeted that the tough times “have brought [both nations] closer than ever before”.

It added that India is “happy to be of assistance to [its] close maritime partner” adding that the refit is “another example of [the] strong defence partnership”.

CGS Huravee underwent a five-month refit back in 2018 as well.

Citing a statement by the Navy, Indian news outlets report that main propulsion and auxiliary equipment of CGS Huravee were refurbished/replaced during the refit.

The power generation equipment of the MNDF CGS ship was renewed in turn increasing its endurance and capabilities. Numerous other systems and equipment were repaired to improve the performance and sustainability of CGS Huravee. It was also put through 'extensive harbour and sea trials' to test and to achieve 'full operational readiness'.

CGS Huravee was donated to Maldives by India in 2006, ‘to strengthen the partnership between the two nations and to cooperate further for the maritime safety of the Indian Ocean Region’.