• The launching ceremony of 9th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 23 (Yard 133), was held on January 31 at Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane.
• The contract for construction of 11 ACTCM barges was concluded with MSME Shipyard, Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane on March 5, 2021.
• These barges have been indigenously designed and built by MSME Shipyard in collaboration with an Indian Ship Designing firm and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
• Model testing was undertaken at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam to ensure seaworthiness.
• The MSME Shipyard has already delivered eight of these barges and these are being utilised by the Indian Navy.
• The availability of ACTCM Barges will provide impetus to operational commitments of the Indian Navy by facilitating embarkation and disembarkation of articles/ammunition to Indian Navy Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours.
(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)