INS Shardul deployed in Indian Ocean

The Indian Navy has deployed its warship Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul for two months in the southern Indian Ocean to provide surveillance support in the region.

During the initial phase of deployment, the warship carried out joint exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance in March in close coordination with Mauritius National Coast Guard.

Following this, the warship entered the EEZ of Seychelles on 27 March 2017 for surveillance operations, then set sail from Port Victoria on 31 March 2017 with three Seychelles Coast Guard personnel embarked for Phase II. The deployment was aimed at showing presence, deterring illegal fishing and drug trafficking. The ship carried out patrol in the area and interrogated merchant and fishing vessels ensuring safe waters for transit of mercantile traffic and safeguarding of EEZ of Seychelles.

The ship will return to India in mid-April 2017.

INS Shardul is a landing ship tank of the Indian Navy whose role is to transport troops, vehicles, armaments and attain all objectives of an amphibious operation such as landing of combat equipment and personnel.

INS Shardul has the capability to launch and recover marine commandos through sea as well as by helicopters. The ship can act as a hospital with facilities provided in containerised form and as a fleet tanker for limited mission/exercise. The ship is deployed with the first training squadron and is responsible for the ab-initio sea training of officers of Indian Navy.