Keel laying ceremony of the two ships of Multi Purpose Vessel (MPV) Project  (Yard18001 – Samarthak & Yard 18002 – Utkarsh) was held at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, on March 20. The ceremony was presided by VAdm Sandeep Naithani, Chief of Materiel, in the presence of VAdm Kiran Deshmukh, CWP&A, Mr. Ashok Khetan, Head Shipbuilding Business, L&T and other senior officials from Indian Navy and L&T. The contract of construction of two Multi Purpose Vessels was concluded with L&T Shipyard in March 22, in consonance with ‘Aatmarnirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives of the Government of India.

These are the first Indian Navy Warships being constructed by L&T, Kattupalli. All major machinery, auxiliary equipment and systems for the Multi Purpose Vessels will be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. This will provide further impetus to Defence production and employment generation within the country.

These vessels, once delivered to the Indian Navy, will perform multi role support functions such as maritime surveillance, patrolling, disaster relief and launching expendable targets for exercises. These ships would also be deployed for operating autonomous / remotely operated / unmanned vessels.