These three ISVs are in
addition to the first batch of ISVs commissioned last year on 04 Jun
14 and will constitute the 84th Immediate Support Vessel Squadron
based at Visakhapatnam. Two ISVs have been built by Rodman Spain whereas
one ISV has been built by the Abu Dhabi Ship Builders (ADSB). The
project was a joint collaboration between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) Ltd, Ship Builders and the Indian Navy.
Vice Admiral Satish Soni
was received on arrival at the Naval Jetty by Commodore KA Bopanna,
Naval Officer-in-Charge (NOIC), Andhra Pradesh. The Admiral was presented
a Fifty-man Guard and introduced to the Commanding Officers of the
ISVs thereafter. The inaugural address was delivered by the NOIC,
Andhra Pradesh. Lieutenants Jai Kishore, Shobhit Saxena and Vaibhav
Bhardwaj, Commanding Officers of T-38, T-39 and T-40 respectively,
read out the Commissioning Warrants. Hoisting of the Naval Ensign
onboard for the first time and ‘Breaking of the Commissioning
Pennant’ with the National Anthem being played marked the completion
of the Commissioning Ceremony.
"These ISVs were brought
to Naval Dockyard Mumbai where Delivery Acceptance Trials were carried
out. These ships have sailed 1,200 nautical miles from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam
over duration of 12 days before getting commissioned at the Eastern
Naval Command," Vice Admiral Satish Soni said while addressing
the gathering, adding that the ISVs proved their sturdiness as they
crossed successfully the Gulf of Mannar facing strong winds and high
seas.
The ISVs are armed with
Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs) and are fitted with state of the art radar
and navigation equipment. They are fitted with two caterpillar engines
of 1600 MHP each to provide water jet propulsion which provides the
vessels a high speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 500 nautical
miles. These ships are capable of carrying out day and night surveillance
and can be used for rapid insertions/extraction of MARCOS for military
intervention.
The induction and deployment
of these ships will augment the ongoing efforts to bolster coastal
security and provide protection to our offshore assets from asymmetric
threats. These ships would enhance Indian Navy’s capability
in furthering its mandate of maritime safety and security over the
Offshore Developmental Areas on the Eastern sea board.
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