Kolkata. 07 December, 2015. The fifth ship of LCU MK IV project, was launched at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, Kolkata. LCU L-55 is the fifth vessel in the series of eight Landing Craft Utility Ships being designed and built by M/s GRSE for the Indian Navy. The ship can be deployed for multirole activities like beaching operations, humanitarian and disaster relief operations and evacuation from distant islands. The first ship of the class ‘LCU-L51’ was launched on 12 Mar 14 and is presently undergoing trials at GRSE. The vessel is likely to be delivered shortly to Indian Navy.
The chief guest, Vice Admiral AV Subhedar, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Material, Chairman& Managing Director GRSE and various other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Rear Admiral AK Verma (Retd), VSM, Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE Ltd, commenced the proceedings with a formal welcome, which was followed by an address by the Chief Guest. Vice Admiral AV Subhedar asserted that the Indian Navy has been supporting the drive for indigenous construction of warships leading to advancement of our shipbuilding industry and acknowledged the role of GRSE as a reliable partner in pursuing the national goal of ‘Make in India’.
He further stated that Indian Navy is eagerly looking forward towards induction of LCU-MKIV class of ships, which would be based at Port Blair. He extended warm felicitations to the entire team of the GRSE for their significant contribution towards meeting the Navy’s growing requirement of state of the art warships.
In accordance with the traditions, invocations from Atharva Veda were recited and Smt Rohini Subhedar, wife of Vice Admiral AV Subhedar, applied ‘Kumkum’ on the ship’s stem. She,thereafter, named the ship as ‘LCU-L55’, wished the ship good luck and launched the vessel.
