The Indian Navy Monday commissionedits largest off shore patrol vessel INS Saryu for maritimesurveillance around Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Built at Goa Shipyard Limited, the 105-meter vessel is thefirst of the four new class naval off shore patrol vessels(NOPVs) that would be commissioned by the Indian Navy overnext one-and-half year.
"The ship will help the navy to discharge its duty on theeastern coast. It will patrol the exclusive economic zonearound the islands as it has a capacity to be off shore for amonth on its own," Air Marshal P K Roy, Commander in Chief ofAndaman and Nicobar Command of Indian Navy, told PTI.
Air Marshal Roy commissioned the ship in Vasco town nearhere today in presence of senior naval officials.
"This is an important step towards security of ourmaritime assets based near Andaman and Nicobar Islands," hesaid, adding that the security of few of the islands which areuninhabited is crucial.
"There are 500 islands of which many are not inhabited,"he said, adding that the area around Andaman and NicobarIslands is strategic from naval point of view.
Indian Navy officials said INS Saryu will also beimportant to provide secured environment for oil installationsoff Andaman and Nicobar coast.
"The vessel can also be deployed for escorting high valueships and fleet support operations," a senior official added.
"The ship is the Indian Navy's largest off shore patrolvessel, the first in its class," said Rear Admiral (Retd)Vineet Bakhshi, Chairman and Managing Director of Goa ShipyardLimited.
The second ship in this class would be delivered by Maythis year and the rest two ships within an interval of sixmonths each thereafter, he added.