Fleet tanker 'INS Shakti' inducted into Indian Navy

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Oct 1, IRNA -- Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma Saturday said that induction of Fleet Tanker INS Shakti would mark beginning of a new era of state-of-the-art technologies for the Indian Navy.

INS Shakti was commissioned at Naval Dockyard at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state, today.

'The ship enhances the reach of the Navy well beyond the limits of the Indian Ocean,' Verma said.

He congratulated the Fincantieri Shipyard of Italy, which constructed the tanker, for delivering it in time.

Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Anup Singh said that INS Shakti would double the strength of the fleet at the Eastern Naval Command.

175 metres long and 32 metres wide, Shakti would be one of the largest ships of the Navy. It is capable of carrying over 15,000 tons of liquid cargo including fuels for ships and aircraft, as well as fresh water. It can also carry upto 500 tons of solid cargo like provisions and ammunition.

It is fitted with indigenous Anti-Missile Defence Chaff system.

Italian Ambassador to India Giacomo Sanfelice D'Monteforte and Chief of Naval Staff, Eastern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba too were present.

Later, talking to reporters after the commissioning ceremony, the Navy Chief said that INS Shakti, the second of the two fleet tankers built by Fincantieri Shipyard, would be the biggest tanker ship acquired by the Indian Navy yet.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30590139