Indian Navy Launches Seventh Landing Craft Utility

Indian Navy has launched the seventh ship of LCU MK IV project Thursday at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata.

LCU-L57 is the seventh vessel in the series of eight Landing Craft Utility Ships being designed and built by  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 L-57 was fully designed in-house by us,” A K Verma, Rear Admiral (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE said. “The ship is cost effective, fuel efficient and suited for protection of our island territories of Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal as well as Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea," he was quoted as saying by Economic Times Thursday..

The ship will be very useful for joint operations carried out by the Indian Navy and Indian Army for ensuring maritime security and protection of remote islands.

It also has a capability to transport two tanks or four special vehicles and 160 Army troops for landing in remote areas, he said.