GRSE launches three follow-on water jet fast attack

Three follow-on water jet fast attack craft (FO-WJFAC) for the Indian Navy were launched recently at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata, by Medha Murugesan, wife of Vice Admiral P. Murugesan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.

Vice Admiral Murugesan asserted that Indian Navy has been the torch bearer in the drive for indigenous construction of warships and acknowledged the role of GRSE as a reliable partner in pursuing the national goal of ‘Make in India’.

These follow-on WJFAC are powered by the latest 4000-series of MTU engines, along with advanced machinery control system and water jets and can attain a maximum speed of 35 knots. The craft would also have the latest communication equipment and radars which would enable effective surveillance. These follow-on ships have higher power generating capacity of 280 kW, enhanced capacity of RO plant from 2 TPD to 4 TPD among many other features as compared to the WJFAC already in service. The indigenous CRN 91 Gun with optronic pedestal gives them the requisite firepower to undertake their basic role of patrolling effectively. Two of these ships are scheduled to be delivered to the Indian Navy in this year.

Launching of FO-WJFACs Yard 2109, 2110 and 2111 (out of the four contracted), designed in-house and built by GRSE for the Indian Navy is yet another milestone in India’s quest for self-reliance in shipbuilding.

At about 11:00 p.m. on June 21, 2015, an Indian flagged, container vessel Jindal Kamakshi sent out a distress alert. The vessel was on passage from Mundra to Kochi with 20 crew members onboard. The merchant vessel was about 100 km from the Mumbai harbour and reported that it was tilting to one side by 20 degrees. Bad weather further aggravated the situation and the ship therefore closed the shore and anchored about 25 km West of Vasai creek. The distress was received by Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC Mumbai).

Despite heavy winds, rain, pitch dark night and poor visibility, Indian Navy immediately launched a Seaking Helicopter at 12.45 a.m. on June 22, 2015. The helicopter went overhead the vessel and carried out a visual assessment and when captain of the vessel intimated that immediate assistance was not required, the helicopter returned to Mumbai

19 Indian crew of the vessel were winched up by the Seaking Helicopter and brought to safety to INS Shikra, the Indian helicopter base at Colaba. The Master of the stranded ship was rescued by the Coast Guard Chetak helicopter launched from Mumbai.