On December 31, 2020, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal delivered the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class vessel ‘IN LCU L-58’ (Yard 2099) to the Indian Navy (IN). The ship will serve in the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), which is India’s 1st & only tri-service command.
LCU L-58 is the 106th Warship built & delivered by GRSE, which is the highest number of warships delivered by any Indian Shipyard.
i.The protocol of delivery and acceptance was signed between Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retired), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE & Lieutenant Commander Krishan Kumar Yadav.
ii.LCU L-58 is the final ship in the series of 8 LCUs being manufactured by GRSE for the Indian Navy.
Key Points:
i.LCU is a boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment & troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles & troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers.
ii.90% of the ship’s components are manufactured indigenously.
iii.The ship is 62.8 metres long & 11 metres wide and has a displacement of 830 Tonnes. It is capable of achieving speeds of upto 15 Knots.
iv.It is equipped with 2 Indigenous CRN 91 Guns which provide Artillery Fire support during landing operations, Integrated Bridge System (IBS) & the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
v.The 8 LCUs will form the backbone of the Maritime Security Cover & Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Activity in the Andaman & Nicobar Archipelago.
GRSE commences production of 1st of 8 anti-submarine ships:
i.On December 31, 2020 GRSE commenced production of the 1st of 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts for the Indian Navy (ASWSWC).
ii.Indian Navy & GRSE signed a contract worth INR 6, 311 crores for the construction of 8 Anti-Submarine ships in April, 2019.
iii.The ships will be equipped with modern weapons, sensors like hull mounted sonar, torpedo launchers & rocket launcher to detect & destroy sub-surface targets in coastal waters.
iv.Delivery of ships are expected to begin from October, 2022.
v.Indian Navy had signed contracts for 16 ASWSWCs with GRSE, Kolkata & Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi for construction of 8 ships each.
Recent Related News:
i.On May 15, 2020, Lt. General PS Rajeshwar Commanding-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command commissioned the 103rd Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class vessel ‘INLCU L 57’ into the Indian Navy at Port Blair.
ii.June 10, 2020, The 5th and last ship in the series of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) namely “ICGS Kanaklata Barua” or “Yard 2117” for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE):
Chairman & Managing Director – Rear Admiral V K Saxena, IN (retired)
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal
