GRSE is a premier Indian Defence Shipyard and specializes in construction of Landing Ship Tank (Large) for the Indian Navy in addition to other classes of Warships. One of such follow on ships, GRSE Yard 3015 (Kesari) was handed over to the Indian Navy on 21 Feb 08 at Kolkata. She has now been commissioned today, 05April 08 at the Naval Base at Visakhapatnam by His Excellency Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, the Hon’ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh and dedicated to the service of the Navy. The occasion was graced by VAdm RP Suthan, AVSM, VSM, FOC-in-C, East, VAdm Dilip Deshpande, AVSM, VSM, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, IHQ MOD(Navy), RAdm T S Ganeshan, NM, VSM, IN(Retd), Chairman & Managing Director GRSE, senior officers from the services and other distinguished guests.

The earlier ships of the class viz. INS Magar, INS Gharial and INS Shardul were successfully delivered to the Indian Navy by GRSE in the past. The basic design of the ship was evolved by Directorate of Naval Design at Integrated Headquarters of MoD (Navy), New Delhi. Design modifications of the ship have been carried out by GRSE. The Project is managed by the Directorate of Ship Production at IHQ MoD (Navy).

This new ship Kesari, like her predecessors, will be an important amphibious warfare ship carrying Landing Craft Assault, battle tanks, army vehicles and troops. The ship is capable of beaching for disembarkation of these vehicles and army troops. The new ship has several upgradation in terms of better performance, maintainability, enhanced air-conditioned accommodation for troops and additional inner Bow Door as per latest classification rules. The ship is also provided with helicopter staging facilities for SEAKING MK 42C helicopter or indigenously built Dhruv helicopter.

The new ship Kesari is also fitted with modern electronic equipment. She will have two WM 18 Rocket Launcher mountings and CRN 91 Guns.

The ship has an indigenous content of over 90% with the state-of-the-art equipment such as main engines, gearbox, CPP system, steering gear, air-conditioning and refrigeration plants, power generation and distribution system manufactured in the country. The ship is 124.8 meters long and 17.5 meters broad and will have a deep displacement of 5600 tonnes. The ship can carry 12 main battle tanks, 10 Army vehicles and 500 troops for amphibious operations and is capable of achieving a speed of 15.8 knots. The ship is fully equipped to safeguard the maritime interest of the country.

The ship ‘KESARI’ from to-day is dedicated to the service with the Indian Navy. Commissioning of the ship ‘KESARI’ is yet another milestone in the history of GRSE who had been actively contributing to the defence preparedness of the country.

- End -