The Indian Navy has commissioned its first multi-purpose vessel (MPV) ‘INS Samarthak’ at the Karwar naval base, Karnataka, last week. 

The platform was commissioned on Oct 16 during an event presided over by the Vice President of India, C P Radhakrishnan, in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, and other senior officials and dignitaries. 

Indigenously designed and constructed by L&T Shipyard, INS Samarthak marks a significant milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding journey as the first major warship to be built by an Indian private shipyard, the Defence Ministry said.

“With over 75% indigenous content, the ship incorporates extensive modular construction and pre-outfitting, significantly optimising the build process and construction timelines. The project has also contributed to employment generation, capability development and plough back into the Indian economy,” the Ministry said.

Conceived as a versatile platform for trials and evaluation, INS Samarthak embodies the enhanced technological and operational capabilities of Indian Navy in the 21st century. 

INS Samarthak is capable of undertaking maritime surveillance and reconnaissance, offshore patrolling, and HADR operations, as required.

The induction of INS Samarthak significantly strengthens India's ability for testing and training new sensors and weapons developed indigenously by domestic industry. The ship’s versatility is an advantage in an unpredictable maritime environment, given the rise of non-traditional maritime threats.

The commissioning of  the indigenous platform is a powerful testament to the growing maturity and capability of the nation’s private shipbuilding industry and reflects the deepening synergy between the Indian Navy and the Indian shipbuilding industry in advancing the national vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.