Navy’s North Jetty to be commissioned by February 2025, says Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Southern Naval Command, addressing the media on board Navy ship INS Shardul, at the Naval Base in Kochi on December 2.
| Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin

More ships can be berthed at the Naval Base here when the North Jetty in Willingdon Island is commissioned by February 2025, Vice Admiral V. Srinivas, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief of the Southern Naval Command (SNC), said here on Monday (December 2).

This would largely redress issues posed by shortage of berthing space for naval ships that are either being inducted afresh or are replaced, he said. He was addressing the media on board Navy ship INS Shardul as part of the Navy Day observance. Each year, Navy Day is observed on December 4 to commemorate the attack on the Karachi harbour by the Indian Navy’s missile boats on December 4, 1972.

Answering a question about alternative fuel options that could be used instead of fossil fuels in naval vessels, he said the Navy was actively pursuing environment-friendly fuel alternatives. “Cochin Shipyard Limited [CSL] had built a small vessel [India’s first indigenously built hydrogen fuel cell ferry boat — a 24-metre-long catamaran that can carry 50 passengers]. The Navy is in touch with the shipyard to build bigger vessels,” Vice Admiral Srinivas said.

Over the years, the Navy has matured from a buyer’s navy into a builder’s navy, thanks mainly to indigenisation efforts. On the recruitment of Agniveers, he said their fifth batch had begun training at INS Chilka, the Navy’s training establishment for Agniveers. They, including women personnel, are there in every vertical in the Navy, he added.

On the operational front, he said the assets of the SNC were deployed extensively, including for anti-piracy and anti-drug drives and also for multi-lateral exercises. The indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant that was built at CSL has completed different phases of trials and is now attached to the Western Naval Command.

Personnel of the SNC worked hand in hand with rescue and relief personnel in the landslide-hit Wayanad, while the coastal population is being sensitised on their crucial role in coastal security, the Vice Admiral said.

Rear Admiral Upal Kundu, Chief of Staff of the SNC, and Commander Atul Pillai, Defence PRO, Kerala, too were present.