Navy Commissions INS Samarthak, First Multi-Purpose Vessel, at Karwar

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Samarthak, the first of four multi-purpose vessels being built for the service, at the INS Kadamba naval base in Karwar, Karnataka, on Friday, October 16. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan presided over the ceremony, which was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, senior naval officers and Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad.

A Ship Built for Many Roles

INS Samarthak is about 107 metres long and has been designed for maritime surveillance, offshore patrolling, training and support operations. It can also serve as a mothership for launching drones and unmanned boats at sea, and as a platform to test weapons, radars and sensors.

The vessel is equipped to carry out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. Its integrated combat suite brings together indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems, and its crest shows an Indian elephant rising from the waves.

Built by a Private Indian Shipyard

The ship was built by Larsen and Toubro at its Kattupalli yard in Tamil Nadu under the Make in India programme, using modular construction to shorten building time. According to reports, over 75 per cent of its content is indigenous.

The Navy described the vessel as “a powerful testament to the growing maturity and capability of the nation’s private shipbuilding industry”. An official statement said the Vice-President underscored the strategic significance of indigenously built naval platforms.

Why It Matters Beyond the Navy

Warships built in Indian yards keep shipbuilding work, engineering skills and supplier orders inside the country. Small and medium firms that make components, cables, electronics and fittings often benefit from such contracts, as do workers in shipyard towns.

The ship’s disaster relief role also matters for coastal communities. Navy vessels are often among the first to reach fishing villages and islands after cyclones and floods, carrying food, water and medical help. Readers can follow earlier coverage such as the launch of the submarine Vagir and India’s maritime defence talks with Sri Lanka.

Three more vessels of the class are due to follow. Their delivery, and how the Navy uses INS Samarthak for unmanned operations, will show how far India’s private yards can support the fleet’s future needs.

Based on reporting by The Tribune, IANS via NewKerala and PIB.

Image: The Tribune / PTI.