INS Sumitra

Chennai's shores -and the rest of the east coast -have a new sentinel with Indian Navy commissioning INS Sumitra, the largest indigenously designed and built offshore patrol vessel, at Chennai port on Thursday .
The vessel designed and built at Goa Shipyard will be used for coastal surveillance under the Eastern Naval Command in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern Indian Ocean region. Chief of naval staff Admiral R K Dhowan commissioned the vessel which is also the first major patrol vessel to be based at Chennai port. Admiral Dhowan said the naval force was no longer dependent on other countries for vessels. As many as 120 ships and submarines have been designed and built in India. “We have 41 ships and submarines that are being designed and built indigenously at our own shipyards. We are becoming self reliant on vessels and equipment,“ said Admiral Dhowan.
INS Sumitra, 105 metres long and 13 metres wide, can attain a maximum speed of 26 knots, and has a range of 6,000 nautical miles. The ship has medium-range and short-range weapon systems, including a 76 mm medium range gun. It can operate helicopters and has four high-speed boats on board. Admiral Dhowan added that with at least 60% of trade in our country happening through ocean, there was a need to ensure maximum naval surveillance and security capabilities.
Sumitra is equipped with a fully integrated LAN system along with a closed circuit television management system. The vessel is powered by two Pielstick diesel engines that are the largest to be inducted in the navy . The ship will have a complement of nine officers and 105 sailors.