Indian Navy launches fifth privately-built missile-cum-ammunition barge
12 Jun 2024
Indian Navy on Monday launched its fifth missile-cum-ammunition barge, LSAM 13, built by private sector Secon Engineering Projects Pvt Ltd, Visakhapatnam.
The launch was carried out from Vinayaga Marine Petro Ltd, Mira Bhayandar, near Mumbai, which is the launch site of Secon Engineering Projects.
These missile-cum-ammunition barges are indigenously designed and built under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The ministry of defence awarded the contract for building the barge to Secon Engineering on 19 February 2021.
These barges would facilitate transportation, embarkation and disembarkation of articles / ammunition to naval ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours, enhancing operational ability of the Navy.
The design and testing of the barge were undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, making them part of the government’s `Make in India’ initiative.
In April this year, the Indian navy launched its sixth Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge, LSAM 20, built at Thane-based private shipyard Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd.