Water jet fast attack craft INS Tarasa commissioned into Indian Navy today

INS Tarasa, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft intended for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrolling, was commissioned into the Indian Navy here on Tuesday.

Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra, who commissioned the vessel, expressed the hope that "she would discharge her duties with elan and resolve, and bring laurels to the WNC".

He said the vessel, built in Kolkata, is of proven design with good endurance, low draught, high speed and manoeuvrability making her ideal for her primary role of extended coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance.

Luthra also praised the vessel's crew and the Warship Overseeing Team, Kolkata, for ensuring that the ship was commissioned after completing all weapons and sensor trials.

Besides, the maiden voyage of the vessel from Kolkata to Mumbai in rough weather bore testimony to her seaworthiness, he said.

It is the fourth and last of the Water Jet FACs built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.

The first two -- INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu -- were commissioned in 2016 and are based in Vishakhapatnam, and the third, INS Tillanchang, was commissioned in March this year and is based in Karwar.

These ships are an upgrade of the Car Nicobar Class FACs of the Indian Navy, which were also indigenously designed and built by GRSE, Kolkata.

INS Tarasa is 50 metres long, powered by three waterjets which give it speed of over 35 knots (65 kmph), and is armed with a 30mm main gun and several light, medium and heavy machine guns. It is commanded by Lt Commander Praveen Kumar.

Besides coastal and offshore surveillance, it is described as an ideal platform to render missions like EEZ Patrol, law enforcement, non-military missions like search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Incidentally, this is the second ship to be christened INS Tarasa -- the first INS Tarasa which served the Indian Navy from 1999 to 2014 was gifted to the Seychelles Coast Guard.