The induction ceremony of the sixth missile-cum-ammunition barge, LSAM 12 (Yard 80), was held at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Friday. The ceremony was presided over by Cmde Abhirup Majumdar, Command Refit Officer, Headquarters Western Naval Command.
The induction of these barges will provide a major boost to the operational commitments of Indian Navy by facilitating transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles or ammunition to Navy platforms both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
The contract for the construction of eight MCA Barges was concluded with M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt. Ltd., Visakhapatnam, in February this year.
The shipyard indigenously designed the barges in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm and successfully model-tested them at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, to ensure seaworthiness.
The barges have been built in accordance with the relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
“These Barges are proud flag bearers of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of government of India,” the defence ministry said in a release.
