INS Sardar Patel: Indian Navy's new base commissioned in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Adding to a series of recent boosts for India's defence sector, Indian Navy's latest Naval establishment, INS Sardar Patel, was commissioned at Gujarat's Porbandar on Saturday. The base was commissioned by Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel.

According to the Navy, the commissioning of INS Sardar Patel would enable it to qualitatively augment its infrastructure and organisational effectiveness in Gujarat, which would improve coordination and synergy with other maritime agencies of the government.

This Forward Operating Base (FOB) of Indian Navy in Gujarat and the Headquarters of the Naval Officer-in-Charge (Gujarat, Diu & Daman) would also enhance the logistic support being provided to the Indian Navy units deployed in the Northern Arabian Sea, including along the International Maritime Boundary Line with Pakistan.

Gujarat has a coastline of 1600 km interspersed with 43 ports. Of these, besides Kandla being a major port, 11 are intermediate and 31 are minor ports. The ports of Gujarat handle 300 million tons of cargo annually, which is 43% of the total maritime trade handled by the various ports of India.

The economic importance of this frontal maritime state, in the overall national security dynamics, is the core factor governing sustenance and operation of naval assets from the Forward Operating Naval base at Porbandar.

The name Sardar Patel has been chosen to signify the role of Vallabhai Patel, the first Deputy PM and Home Minister of India, one of the founding fathers of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Naval Staff, noted that the commissioning of a full-fledged naval base Sardar Patel was another milestone in the commitment of the Indian Navy towards augmenting the coastal surveillance and maritime security infrastructure in the strategically important state of Gujarat.