INS Karuva

The indigenouslybuilt fast attack craft (FAC), INS Karuva, was inducted into the Indian Navy at the naval base in Vishakapatnam on Thursday as part of strengthening the coastal surveillance. The vessel was commissioned by commander-in-chief of the Strategic Forces Command, Air Marshal K J Mathews after receiving a guard of honour from the naval officers. The ship was named after the pristine, historic island off Kerala’s Wayanad coast, Karuva, close to a tributary of river Kabani. The vessel was conceived, designed and built indigenously by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited of Kolkata. The ship, measuring 52 metres in length and displacement of 325 tonnes, could achieve speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship would be manned by four officers and 39 sailors. Built for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrol with advanced engines and latest communication gadgets, INS Karuva would be based at Karwar. It would be deployed for coastal patrol and anti-piracy missions along the Konkan coast and the Lakshadweep group of island. Another FAC, INS Koswari, was commissioned in July this year.