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The Indian Navy has for the first time commissioned a catamaran hydrographic survey vessel built by the private sector Alcock Ashdown shipyard in Gujarat.
The vessel, christened INS Makar, was inducted formally into the Indian Navy at Karwar naval base in Karnataka by the Western Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha.
"The Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha commissioned INS Makar into the Indian Navy. Makar is a Catamaran Hydrographic Survey Vessel and is the first of its kind to be inducted in the Indian Navy. INS Makar is another statement of the potential of the indigenous warship building industry," the Indian Navy spokesperson said.
INS Makar also marks a new chapter in the annals of hydrography in our country. The primary role of the ship is to undertake hydrographic surveys, required for production of nautical charts and publications aimed at improving navigational safety at sea.
The vessel is equipped with an array of modern surveying equipment and also undertake limited oceanographic surveys towards providing marine environmental data.
The ship is propelled by four Cummins-make engines, as well as two bow thrusters. The entire propulsion, navigational and power management packages of the vessel are integrated in a single state-of-art Integrated Platform Management System.
Makar has two survey motor boats and its impressive equipment outfit for hydrographic survey includes Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for closer investigations, advanced Electronic Positioning System, Multi-beam Swath Sounding Systems and Sub Bottom Profiler.
It also has a full range of latest oceanographic and land survey equipment.
The accommodation for the six officers and 44 sailors incorporates advanced ergonomic design and ensures crew comfort and space management. The ship has enhanced Indian Navy’s already existing world class sea/ocean survey capability. |