The Indian Navy is planning to procure eight new South Korean minesweepers to increase its fleet of warships that are capable of detonating sea mines, navy officials have said.

“The Defence Ministry is holding commercial negotiations with the Kangnam Corporation of South Korea for procuring eight minesweepers, of which, two would be constructed at the vendors’ shipyards and the rest would be built in India,” they added.

The first ship is likely to be delivered by 2016 and the remaining vessels will be delivered by the Goa Shipyard by 2018, according to the Press Trust of India.

The navy is also planning to procure two US Osprey Class minesweepers that were decommissioned by the US Navy in 2007.

Currently, the navy operates 12 Pondicherry and Karwar Class minesweepers that are deployed along the Eastern and the Western sea board.