Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), a leading international ship classification society, announced that the keel laying ceremony of the first Cadets’ Training Ship built under the IRS class was held at L&T’s shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai, India.
This is the first of three ships currently under construction and being classified by the IRS. The ship is specifically designed to carry 210 naval cadets, including 60 female cadets and cadets from other countries. The delivery of the first vessel is expected to occur by October 2026.
These Cadets’ Training Ships are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to serve as a maritime learning hub providing hands-on experience, training in practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge to the cadets for meeting the future requirements of the Indian Navy and foreign navies whose cadets are embarked. In addition, the ships also have the capabilities to be deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Cdr. KK Dhawan (Retd), Head Defence of IRS, stated, “IRS is delighted to commemorate the keel laying ceremony of our first Cadet Training Ship. This a testament to our commitment to supporting Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), as majority of the equipment and systems would be sourced from indigenous manufacturers. We are proud to be part of the Indian Navy’s pursuit towards indigenous shipbuilding and the Government of India’s vision of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.”