The first catamaran hydrographic survey vessel, Makar, constructed by the Alock Ashdown (Gujarat) Limited set sail for Mumbai on its maiden voyage from Ghogha in Gujarat.
AAGL received the order by winning the competitive tender, involving public sector as well as private sector shipyards, issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Business Standard reported.
The primary role of the vessels will be to carry out coastal hydrographic surveys and limited oceanographic surveys, the company’s release said.
According to AAGL the vessel will also be capable of limited coastal defence role in an emergency and will have a limited search and rescue capability and limited ocean research capability.
The Indian Navy has chosen to induct a vessel with a catamaran hull form for the first time and will be one of the very few select navies in the world to operate such sophisticated ship.
[mappress] Subsea World News Staff , May 31, 2012