In October 2025, the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) launched the ‘Indian Naval Ship (INS) Magdala(BY 528)’, 6th in the series of eight indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC) designed for Indian Navy (IN), at its facility in Kochi, Kerala.
- The vessel was formally launched by Renu Rajaram in the presence of Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A), along with other senior officials from IN and CSL.
- Besides INS Magdala, CSL also launched two more vessels: a Crew Support Offshore Vessel (CSOV) for M/s Pelagic Wind Services, Cyprus, and India’s largest indigenously manufactured DCI Dredge Godavari, for M/s Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), Mumbai(Maharashtra).
Exam Hints:
- What? Launch of 6th ASWC-SWC
- Launched by: CSL
- Name of Vessel: INS Magdala (BY 528)
- Where? Kochi (Kerala)
- Total ASWC-SWC: 8
- Designed for: Indian Navy (IN)
- Indigenous Content: Over 80%, supporting India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative
- Specifications: 78 m long, 896 tonnes, max speed 25 knots, endurance 1,800 nautical miles
- Name of 5 ASW-SWCs: INS Mahe, INS Malvan, INS Mangrol, INS Malpe and INS Mulki
- Other Vessels Launched:
- Crew Support Offshore Vessel (CSOV) for M/s Pelagic Wind Services, Cyprus
- DCI Dredge Godavari: India’s largest indigenously built Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD).
About INS Magdala (BY 528):
Developed by: INS Magdala, indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, features over 80% indigenous content, supporting India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative and enhancing naval self-reliance.
Specifications: 78 meter (m) long, 896-tonne vessel is capable of achieving maximum speed of 25 knots and has an endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.
Armaments: The ship is equipped with advanced underwater sensors, lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mine-laying capability, is expected to enhance coastal anti-submarine warfare.
Key Operations: The vessel has the capability to conduct Low-Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), coordinated ASW missions with aircraft, and search and rescue operations in coastal waters.
Local Content: The vessel features over 80% indigenous content in its design and equipment, reflects India’s growing self-reliance in naval shipbuilding.
About ASW-SWC:
Background: The vessels, part of the ‘Mahe Class’, are being developed as part of the contract signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and CSL on April 30, 2019.
Purpose: These vessels are specifically designed to replace the IN’s ‘Abhay-class’ corvettes, which will strengthen India’s near-shore anti-submarine capabilities with enhanced automation, manoeuvrability and endurance.
Equipments: ASWC-SWCs are propelled by 3 diesel engines-powered waterjets, and are equipped with advanced sensors like: Hull Mounted Sonar and Low Frequency Variable Depth Sonar (LFVDS) and firepower provided by state-of-the-art Torpedoes, Anti-Submarine Rockets, Naval Surface Gun(NSG-30 Gun) and 12.7 millimeter (mm) Stabilised Remote Control Gun (SRCG).
Other Variants: In November 2023, INS Mahe, INS Malvan and INS Mangrol, were unveiled as the 1st three ships of ASW-SWC series.
- Later, in September 2024, CSL launched the INS Maple (BY 526) and INS Mulki (BY 527), which are 4th and 5th ships ASW-SWC series.
About DCI Dredge Godavari:
Type & Capacity: : The vessel is a 12,000 cubic meter (m³) Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD), designed for large-scale dredging, making it the largest of its kind built in India and among the largest in Asia.
Design : Built on the Beagle 12 platform in collaboration with Dutch company Royal IHC, it reflects advanced engineering and international partnership.
Size & Operational Depth: The 127-m dredger can operate at depths of up to 36 m, enhancing port deepening and land reclamation projects.
Features: Equipped with advanced automation, efficient dredging systems, and upgraded safety and environmental systems, it represents the next generation of dredgers in India.
About Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL):
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)- Madhu S. Nair
Headquarters- Kochi, Kerala
Established- 1972
