In a significant milestone for India’s maritime capabilities, the Indian Navy celebrated the induction ceremony of ‘LSAM 20’, the 6th barge of the 11 x ACTCM Barge Project. Constructed by MSME Shipyard M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd in Thane, this delivery marks a crucial step towards enhancing the Navy’s operational readiness.
The contract for building 11 X ACTCM Barges was inked between the Ministry of Defence and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, on March 5, 2021. These specialized barges play a vital role in supporting the Indian Navy’s logistical operations, facilitating the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition to IN ships both at jetties and outer harbors.
Designed and built indigenously under the strict regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping, these barges represent a proud achievement of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The model testing phase at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory in Visakhapatnam ensured the efficacy and reliability of the design, further validating their suitability for naval operations.
The induction ceremony at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, was a momentous occasion, graced by the presence of Cmde Nadella Ramana, GMR, ND(Mbi), who presided over the proceedings. His participation underscored the Navy’s commitment to modernizing its fleet with indigenous solutions, bolstering India’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
As ‘LSAM 20’ joins the Indian Navy’s fleet, it not only strengthens the force’s operational capabilities but also reflects the nation’s prowess in maritime engineering and technology. With each barge contributing to the Navy’s strategic goals, India moves closer to its vision of a robust and self-sufficient maritime defense infrastructure.
