On May 15, 2020, Lt. General PS Rajeshwar PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Commanding-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command, has commissioned the 103rd Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class vessel ‘INLCU L 57’ (Yard no: 2098) into the Indian Navy at Port Blair in a low-profile ceremony. It was the 7th in the series of 8 such vessels being indigenously made by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the Navy.
Key Points:
i.This amphibious Ship, measuring 62.8 metres long, 11 metres wide and has a displacement of 830 tonnes, with a low draught of 1.7 metres, is based at the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s first and only tri-service command.
It is equipped with state-of-art equipment and advanced systems, like Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS).
ii.Commanded by Lieutenant Commander HarshvardhanVenugopal, the ship designed to accommodate five officers, 45 sailors and is capable of carrying 160 troops in addition.
iii.The ship designated for a primary role to transport & deploy main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, troops and combat equipment such as Main Battle Tanks Arjun, T72 from ship to the shore. It can be used for beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief operations, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands.
iv.The final vessel of this category has reached the advanced stage of construction at GRSE and is expected to be commissioned later in 2020.
About LCU Mk-IV Class of ships:
These ships are a further improved version of the Mk-III LCU Vessels fitted with close to 90% indigenous equipment, in line with the central Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative towards achieving self-reliance (atma nirbharta) and indigenisation.
About GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited):
Headquarters– Kolkata,West Bengal
Chairman & Managing Director– Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena ,IN (Retired)
On May 19, 1960, it was acquired by the Government of India from Macneill & Barry Limited.
About Indian Navy:
Motto– May the Lord of the Water be auspicious unto us
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral Karambir Singh
