PMSS Kashmir
{{Short description|Multi-purpose vessel of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|display title=PMSS Kashmir}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:PMSS Kashmir (P-143).jpg | Ship caption = PMSS Kashmir underway on 12 February 2019 }} {{Infobox ship career | Ship country = Pakistan | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Pakistan|naval}} | Ship name = Kashmir | Ship namesake = Kashmir | Ship owner = Pakistan Maritime Security Agency | Ship builder = Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, China | Ship laid down = 16 August 2016 | Ship launched =7 September 2018 | Ship commissioned=20 July 2018 | Ship decommissioned= | Ship homeport = Port of Karachi | Ship identification = Pennant number: P-143 |Ship status=Active |Ship fate= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Ship class = Kashmir-class multi-purpose vessel | Ship displacement = 1,550 tons | Ship length = {{convert|94|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|12|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = 2 × MAN diesel engines | Ship speed = {{convert|26|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|3500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|26|kn}} | Ship armament = *1 × 30 mm naval gun
| Ship sensors = *TRANSAS
| Ship aircraft = 1 × helicopter | Ship aircraft facilities = Flight deck and hangar }} |
PMSS Kashmir is the lead ship of the Kashmir class of multipurpose vessels (MPVs) that was commissioned on 20 July 2018 at Haungpu Shipyard, Guangzhou, China{{cite web |date=2018-07-21 |title=PMSS ship 'Kashmir' commissioned in China |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1421534 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Dawn |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=KASHMIR Class Ships: PMSS KASHMIR/PMSS KOLACHI |url=https://pmsa.gov.pk/pmss_ship/osron26 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Pakistan Maritime Security Agency |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=2018-07-21 |title=PMSA commissions largest ever new ship named "Kashmir"|url=https://timesofislamabad.com/21-Jul-2018/pmsa-commissions-largest-ever-new-ship-named-kashmir |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Times of Islamabad |language=en-US}} and was launched{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyparliamenttimes.com/2018/09/07/president-ajk-launches-maritime-security-ship-pmss-kashmir/ |title=President AJK launches maritime security ship PMSS Kashmir |work=Daily Parliament Times |date=7 September 2018 |access-date=2 January 2023}} and formally inducted into Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Fleet as part of OSRON-26 Squadron on 7 September 2018.{{cite web |date=2018-09-07 |title=AJK president inducts PMSS Kashmir in maritime agency fleet |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/210277-ajk-president-inducts-pmss-kashmir-in-maritime-agency-fleet |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Geo TV |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=2018-09-08 |title=Fifth patrol vessel inducted into maritime agency's fleet |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1431658 |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Dawn |language=en-US}}
Background
File:Commssioning of PMSS Kashmir.jpg
Kashmir was designed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)'s marine engineering subsidiary 708 Research Institute.{{cite web |date=2021-11-18 |title=Vessel Review – Kolachi - New Large Patrol Vessel for Pakistan maritime Security Agency |url=https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/maritime-security-world/non-naval/vessel-review-kolachi-new-large-patrol-vessel-for-pakistan-maritime-security-agency |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Baird Maritime |language=en-US}} It was built by Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in the Chinese city of Guangzhou. It is a variant of the Pattani-class offshore patrol vessel in service with the Royal Thai Navy, and the P18N in service with the Nigerian Navy.{{cite web | last=Mazumdar | first=Mrityunjoy |date=2018-08-24 |title=PMSA's largest patrol ship soon to arrive in Pakistan|url=https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/naval-warfare/pmsas-largest-patrol-ship-soon-arrive-pakistan |access-date=2023-12-30 |website=Shephard Media |language=en-US}}
The second ship of the Kashmir-class MPV, PMSS Kolachi was built locally by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) with assistance from CSSC as part of a technology transfer agreement. It is one of six PMSA patrol vessels to be built under the agreement. The five other ships include Kolachi's near identical sister and the four smaller 600-tonne vessels of the Hingol class.
PMSS Kashmir is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones, pollution monitoring and control and search and rescue operations while operating independently or as part of a task force in a multi-threat environment for extended duration at sea due to having that capability of replenishment and shipboard helicopter operations.