Article Posted on : - Mar 11, 2014

PANAJI (PTI): The Indian Navy has inducted INS Sumedha, an indigenously designed and built, state-of-the-art new generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) into its fleet.

The Vessel, designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy by Vice Admiral Anil Chopra, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Naval command at a ceremony held at GSL on 7th March.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Anil Chopra said "the timely delivery of Sumedha is truly testimony to the Navy's twin pronged commitment to indigenous design and ship construction."

Congratulating Goa Shipyard for meeting the timeline of the ship's delivery to the Navy, as well as for the quality of work, he said, "INS Sumedha is a fine example of a complex process which includes challenging feats of engineering, outfitting, integration of diverse equipment, setting to work and finally, the delivery acceptance trials."

This 105-metre Vessel is the third in the series of four new class of NOPVs designed and built by GSL for the Indian Navy.

INS Sumedha is the 200th indigenously built ship by GSL, yet another significant milestone in the nation's journey towards indigenisation and self reliance.

Chairman and Managing Director of GSL, Rear Admiral(retd) Shekhar Mital said, "even before delivery of ongoing four NOPVs, we have improved upon our own design and Coast Guards Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPVs) with higher head space, larger beam, higher stability, better ship handling capability, higher fuel efficiency are under construction.

INS Sumedha will help meet the increasing requirement of the Indian Navy for undertaking ocean surveillance and surface warfare operations in order to prevent infiltration and transgression of maritime sovereignty.

This Vessel is suitable for monitoring sea lanes of communication, defence of offshore oil installations and other critical offshore national assets."

Besides, the vessel can be deployed for escorting high value ships and fleet support operations.