Kolkata-based shipbuilder achieves rare feat by laying keels of three ships concurrently

While Yard 3028 is the fourth and last in the series of Sandhayak Class Survey Vessel (Large), Yards 3030 and 3031 are the third and fourth in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft being built by GRSE for the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral S N Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC was the chief guest at the occasion.

The keel of a ship runs from its stem to stern and is considered the vessel’s spine. It is only after the keel is laid, that work on a ship starts and her hull takes shape.

A Survey Vessel (Large), two of which have already been launched by GRSE, is used by the Indian Navy for hydrographic survey and charting of the ocean floor.

Such ships are also used to study the entry point to harbours and allow naval vessels adequate clearance during their approach.

The ASW Shallow Water Crafts on the other hand are potent Anti-Submarine platforms bustling with weapons, Sonar and Sensors to detect and neutralize any underwater threat in Indian territory.

Vice Admiral Ghormade was happy to note that this is the first time ever that the keel laying is being undertaken for three Indian Navy Warships concurrently.

Speaking at the occasion, Cmde P R Hari, IN (retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, talked about how the premier defence shipyard is gearing up to meet the challenge and deliver state-of-the-art ships, with very high indigenous content, to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.