..:: India Strategic ::. Navy: Indian Navy Commissions 3 Indigenously-built Immediate Support Vessels

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Editorial

Indian Navy Commissions 3 Indigenously-built Immediate Support Vessels

Published: September 2015

Mumbai. Immediate Support Vessels (ISVs) T-48, T-49 and T-50, the last three of total number of 23, were commissioned into Indian Navy at an induction ceremony in Mumbai September 29.

These vessels join the 82nd ISV Squadron taking their total to 17 and will be based at Mumbai. In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to 'Make in India', 14 of the ISVs were built indigenously by M/s SHM Shipcare, Thane while four were built by M/s ADSB and five by M/s Rodman Polyships.

Vice Adm SPS Cheema, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command, was the Chief Guest at the commissioning ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed on the importance of the Offshore Development Area (ODA), Exclusive Economic Zone and role played by vital installations along coastline to the country and its economic growth.

Vice Adm Cheema stated ODA, which accounts for over 70 per cent of the indigenous hydrocarbon production, plays a vital role in energy security matrix of the country and given the prevailing volatile situation and threat of terrorism its security can never be undermined. He complimented the crew on commissioning and called upon them to set exacting benchmarks as they breathe 'soul' into these new hulls. He urged them to lay strong foundations of an operational culture onboard, as they proceed to exploit these versatile platforms.

Built to international standards, by adopting state-of-art material and production technologies, these ships are armed with Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) and propelled by water jet propulsion systems. ISVs can operate at maximum speeds of 40 Knots and economical speeds of 20 Knots. They are designed to operate for long duration and have endurance of 500 nautical miles at sea. These ships are also equipped with advanced sensors and navigational aids.

A day/ night surveillance capability coupled with speed, excellent manoeuvrability and advanced communication enables these ships to protect oil platforms against asymmetric threat from anti-national elements. These ships can also rapidly insert and extract MARCOS from oil platforms, should the need arise. ISVs are also being tasked for search and rescue and law enforcement around these critical national assets.

True to their mettle and trust espoused in them by the nation, ships of this class have undertaken 231 deployments and logged 67,000 nm on patrol in the ODA since their induction in Jan 2013. These ships are thus fulfilling the mandate towards providing maritime security by presence, surveillance and reliable response capability.