Indian Navy 'urgently' needs 12 minesweeper-ships; left with only 2
The Indian Navy currently has only two minesweeper ships at its disposal to safeguard sea lanes and ports spread across thousands of kilometers of coastlines in the eastern and western seaboards, a top Navy officer has said. The Navy requires 12 minesweeper ships, but at present has only two, Rear Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Assistant Chief of Material of Indian Navy, said.
Govt looking to tie up with foreign companies for minesweepers
"The Navy needs these ships urgently," Swaminathan said. Speaking at the launch of a fuel barge for the Navy on Friday, he said defense PSU Goa Shipyard (GSL) is in the process of collaborating with a foreign firm for manufacturing minesweepers. The government has been looking for a foreign collaborator for its over Rs. 32,000cr project, entrusted to GSL, for procuring 12 minesweeper ships.
What exactly are minesweeper warships?
Minesweeper ships are small naval warships that can not only detect but also destroy underwater mines. These warships are considered vital for keeping the critical sea lanes safe for movement of essential cargo, including crude oil. The basic function of these ships would be to locate, classify, sweep, and neutralize all types of ground moored and drift mines.
Fill gap in Navy's capability: Parliamentary standing committee on defense
A parliamentary standing committee on defense last year had slammed the government for delay in procurement of the minesweepers and asked it to make efforts to fill the gap in the Navy's capability.
