The keel-laying ceremony of a training ship (Yard 16101) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), which will be equipped with specialised facilities such as a training bridge for cadets, a chart house, and dedicated classrooms to ensure a high-quality learning experience at sea, was held at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL), Mumbai on Monday.
According to the defence ministry, the ship will play a major role in the training of 70 under-trainee officers, including women officers, after their basic training ashore.
The 107-metre-long ship, capable of achieving a maximum speed of 20 knots, will also feature state-of-the-art machinery and advanced technological systems, including AI-based predictive maintenance systems, a multipurpose drone, Integrated Bridge System & Integrated Platform Management System.
The contract for the construction of the ship was concluded in October 2023. The ship is being indigenously designed, developed, and constructed by MDL under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, in line with the Union government's vision of self-reliance in defence.
READ MORE: 2024 was a landmark year for India’s maritime ambitions, says Sarbananda Sonowal
“The project underscores India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence production and will significantly contribute to strengthening the nation's strategic autonomy. This initiative marks a key milestone in ICG’s ongoing efforts to enhance its operational capabilities and ensure the highest standards of training for its officers, further strengthening their role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests,” the ministry said in a release.
The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Director General (Material & Maintenance) Inspector General H.K. Sharma, in the presence of the Director (Shipbuilding), MDL and other senior officials from the ICG and MDL.