Article Posted on : - Jul 01, 2016

A file photo.

KOLKATA (PTI): The last ship in the series of four Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts (WJFAC) being built for the Indian Navy by defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) here was launched on Thursday.

At the Raja Bagan dockyard, which is a dedicated facility for building small ships, the WJFAC was launched in the waters by Aruna Korde, wife of Vice Admiral Jaywant Korde, Controller of logistics in the Navy.

The vessels are used for conducting attack missions, anti-smuggling, anti-poaching and rescue operations, an official said.

Launching of a ship marks completion of the main hull of a ship and putting it into waters for the first time.

Named Tarasa, after an island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, the ship's 'fitting out' equipment and systems will now be completed and put to sea for trials before being inducted into the navy later in the year.

The WJFAC will also be fitted with CRN-91 indigenous 30 mm gun to provide artillery fire support during attack missions, he said.

The 48 m long vessel has a displacement of around 315 tons and is designed for a maximum speed of 35 knots. It can accomodate 29 personnel on board, he said.

GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral (retd) A K Verma said building of five Inshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard would begin now at their dockyard.