The induction ceremony of the sixth Missile Cum Ammunition Barge (LSAM 12), Yard 80, was successfully held on November 22, 2024, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The event was presided over by Cmde Abhirup Majumdar, Command Refit Officer at Headquarters Western Naval Command.
The contract for the construction of eight MCA Barges was awarded to M/s SECON Engineering Projects Pvt. Ltd., an MSME shipyard based in Visakhapatnam, on February 19, 2024. These barges were indigenously designed in collaboration with an Indian ship designing firm and underwent successful model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam, to ensure their seaworthiness. Built in accordance with the relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), the barges stand as a testament to the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives of the Government of India.
The induction of these missile cum ammunition barges will significantly enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy (IN). They will facilitate the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of ammunition and other materials to Navy platforms, both alongside jetties and at outer harbours. This will further bolster the IN’s readiness and operational commitments.
