Tamil Nadu: Keel laying ceremony of Second Cadet Training ships held at Kattupalli shipyard

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 3 (ANI): The Keel laying ceremony of the second Cadet Training Ship (Yard – 18004) was held at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli on Monday, the Ministry of Defence said in a press release.

The keel laying ceremony marks the beginning of construction for a ship.

The ceremony was presided over by Rear Adm Sandeep Mehta, Assistant Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (ACWP&A).

Rear Adm G K Harish (Retd), Head Shipbuilding Business, L&T and other senior officials from the Indian Navy and M/s L&T were present for the occasion.

The contract for indigenous design and construction of three Cadet Training Ships was concluded between the Ministry of Defence and M/s L&T on March 7, 2023.

These Cadet Training Ships will be utilised for the training officer cadets at sea after their basic training ashore. These ships will also extend training facilities to cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries.

“This is yet another significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s pursuit towards indigenous shipbuilding and is in consonance with Government of India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives,” the release stated.