Mumbai: INS Deepak, an Italian-built fleet
tanker, was on Friday commissioned into the Navy by Defence
Minister A K Antony, who said the current year will see more
acquisitions and commissioning of vessels to strengthen
maritime security.
The 175-metre long and 25-metre wide tanker was
commissioned at the Naval Dockyard here.
"It is a great moment for Indian Navy and 2011 will see
more acquisitions and commissioning to strengthen the maritime
security," Antony said after unveiling the ship`s name plaque,
marking the formal induction of INS Deepak.
He said that Navy has embarked on an ambitious
ship-building programme to provide it with the required
maritime assets to meet its mandate.
"Indian defence shipyards are working to their full
capacity to meet the country`s warship requirements," he said.
"India`s continued presence in Indian Ocean waters
necessitates pursuing our strategic and diplomatic interests;
for which a ship such as Deepak, with an ability to sustain
the Indian fleets at sea for prolonged periods, is a vital
asset," he added.
The ship has a capacity to carry 15,450 tonnes of liquid
cargo, 510 tonnes of solid cargo. It has 16 cargo containers
on the upper deck and can provide fuel to four ships
simultaneously. The solid cargo could be a combination of
ammunition including missiles and rockets, and dry provisions
for the fleet.
The fleet tanker, constructed and delivered in a record
time of 27 months, has aviation facilities and can operate
various types of helicopters from its deck. It has a self-
defence capability provided by 30-mm guns and indigenous Anti
Missile Defence System. The ship has been built by Italian
company Fincantieri.
Chief of Naval staff Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma said,
"The erstwhile Deepak, commissioned in November 1967, was
decommissioned in April 1996 after a glorious 29 years of
service. Deepak has come in a new avatar now. The ship with
its state-of-the-art facilities will strengthen the Navy."
The ship is of `double hull` configuration, in keeping
with the latest MARPOL and SOLAS regulations. Though INS
Deepak is essentially a tanker, it is thoughtfully designed,
and is capable of playing a large number of roles, said a
Defence spokesperson.
The ship has a maximum speed of 20 knots and an endurance
of 10,000 Nautical miles at a speed of 16 knots. It is
equipped with four AK-630 guns for close defence, supplied by
Ordnance Factory Board; and high-tech fire control system
supplied by Bharat Electronics Limited.
In addition, the ship also has sophisticated electronic
surveillance and communication equipment. It is capable of
carrying out an integrated helicopter flight, the spokesperson
added.
The ship is specially designed to function as a command
platform. The sensors and other equipment fitted onboard have
a large percentage of indigenously manufactured components,
especially the communication and Combat Information Management
System, the Defence spokesperson added.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Admiral Nirmal
Kumar Verma, Chief of Naval staff; Vice-Admiral Sanjeev
Bhasin, the flag officer commanding in Chief of Western Naval
Command; and senior officials from the Indian Navy as well as
the Italian Shipyard Fincantieri.
PTI
