The Indian Navy commissioned INS Androth, its second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at a ceremonial event held at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, on Monday.
The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, in the presence of senior naval officers, officials from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), and other dignitaries.
Built by GRSE, Kolkata, INS Androth represents a major step in India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with over 80% indigenous content. Designed for anti-submarine operations in coastal and shallow waters, the 77-metre-long vessel displaces about 1,500 tonnes and is equipped with advanced sensors, weapons, and communication systems to detect, track, and neutralise underwater threats.
“In this journey of Aatmanirbharta, the support provided by the Indian shipbuilding industry, especially GRSE, has been invaluable. With more than 80 per cent indigenous content, Androth stands as a testament to India’s ability to design, develop, and deliver sophisticated platforms that meet high operational standards,” said Vice Admiral Pendharkar.
Cmde PR Hari (Retd.), Chairperson and Managing Director of GRSE, reaffirmed the shipyard’s commitment to delivering advanced warships on schedule, stating, “GRSE is proud to build these highly potent ASW SWCs for the Indian Navy, and we are confident of delivering the remaining vessels on time.”
Named after Androth Island, the northernmost island in the Lakshadweep group, the vessel’s crest features the cone snail shell, symbolising patience, precision, and lethality. Its mascot, the Makar—the mythical vahana of Lord Varuna—represents strength, adaptability, and guardianship, embodying the ship’s role as a modern submarine hunter.
INS Androth comes equipped with Towed Array Sonar, Hull Mounted Sonar, Torpedo Tubes, Rocket Launchers, Torpedo Decoy Tubes, Mine Rails, ELINT and COMINT systems, and a 30mm gun with waterjet propulsion, making it a powerful platform for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and shallow-water operations.
India’s First Very Large Gas Carrier ‘Shivalik’ Welcomed at Vizag Port
In a separate event on Monday, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal ceremonially welcomed India’s first Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) ‘Shivalik’ during its maiden call at Visakhapatnam Port.
Inducted under the Indian flag by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) on September 10, 2025, the vessel marks a significant boost to India’s maritime and energy logistics capabilities.
Sonowal congratulated the SCI team and the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) for ensuring the smooth handling of the vessel’s inaugural LPG consignment. He highlighted that the induction of ‘Shivalik’ aligns with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Maritime India Vision 2030, aimed at strengthening self-reliance, indigenous ownership, and global competitiveness in the maritime sector.
