India’s first Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project ship, built by L&T Shipyard for the Indian Navy, has been launched at L&T Kattupalli. This is a significant achievement for Indian shipbuilding, with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, the Chief of Naval Staff, leading the ceremony. Mrs. Shashi Tripathi, President of the Naval Wives Welfare Association, launched the vessel, named ‘Samarthak’, which means ‘Supporter’ in Hindi.

What is the MPV Project?

The project to build two MPVs was started on 25 March 2022, when a contract was signed between India’s Ministry of Defence and L&T Shipyard. These vessels are designed to handle many different tasks for the Navy, showing the comprehensive role modern naval ships are expected to play.

Capabilities of the Multi-Purpose Vessels

The MPVs have many uses. They are built to perform tasks such as:

Towing ships: Helping other ships move, especially in emergencies.

Launching and recovering targets: These ships can handle different kinds of targets used during naval training.

Operating uncrewed vehicles: They can deploy and control autonomous vehicles that don’t need a crew.

Trial platform for weapons: The MPVs will be used to test new weapons and sensors developed in India.

Key Specifications

The MPV Samarthak has the following features:

• Length: 106 meters (about the length of a football field)
• Width: 16.8 meters
• Maximum Speed: 15 knots (about 27 km/h)

Why is this Important?

The launch of Samarthak is a big step forward for India’s shipbuilding industry. It aligns with the Indian government’s efforts toward ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) and the ‘Make in India’ campaign, which aims to boost domestic production in various sectors, including defense. This launch shows India’s growing ability to build advanced ships on its own, strengthening the country’s maritime capabilities.

What is Multi Purpose Vessels (MPVs)?

Multi Purpose Vessels (MPVs) are special types of ships that can carry many different types of cargo, such as containers, large machinery, or heavy loads. They are used for both commercial and offshore operations, such as helping in oil and gas exploration. MPVs often come with heavy lift cranes, which allow them to handle heavy and complex loads. They are also used for humanitarian missions and disaster relief, making them highly versatile and useful in various situations. Additionally, they can work in shallow waters, making them more flexible in where they can operate.