Article Posted on : - Mar 30, 2011

KOCHI (PTI): Pamba, a 930 'T water' barge, was Tuesday inducted into the flotilla of auxiliary craft by Commodore S Nedunchezian Chief Staff Officer (Technical) Southern Naval Command here.

The 50m-long vessel, when fully loaded can carry '500 T' of water and is manned by a crew of 17 headed by the Master, IC Josey, a defence press release said.

The self-propelled barge is fitted with two engines, with a combined propulsive power of 1,800 BHP and is capable of speeds of up to 12 knots. Pamba is named after the previous Auxiliary which served the Indian Navy for nearly 40 years and decommissioned in April 2007.

The barge is capable of serving Navy’s Warships at anchorage outside the harbour and elsewhere to ensure quick operational turnaround, it said.

It has the essential and latest communication and navigation equipment and also carries a Rigid Inflatable Boat.

Pamba has accommodation for 20 crew members including galley (kitchen) facility, fixed fire fighting arrangements for machinery compartments and tank gauging systems.

The vessel complies with the standards of Indian Register of Shipping and International Maritime Organisation for vessels of similar class, the release said.

Commodore Neduchezian said more inductions are on the anvil to augment the fleet auxiliary strength including ferry craft and powerful tugs.

Dinesh Joshi of ABG Shipyard, builders of the vessel, said the last and fifth barge will be delivered to the Navy by May this year.

The function hosted by Commodore Vivek Chawla, Commodore Superintendent Naval Ship Repair Yard, Kochi, was also attended by senior naval officers and employees of Naval Ship Repair Yard.