The second batch of three Immediate Support Vessels (ISVs), comprising T-38, T-39 and T-40 were commissioned on March 24, 2015, by Vice Admiral Satish Soni PVSM AVSM NM ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command at an impressive ceremony held at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. These three ISVs are in addition to the first batch of ISVs commissioned last year on June 4, 2014, and will constitute the 84th Immediate Support Vessel Squadron based at Visakhapatnam. Two ISVs have been built by Rodman Spain whereas one ISV has been built by the Abu Dhabi Ship Builders (ADSB). The project was a joint collaboration between Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd, Ship Builders and the Indian Navy.

Vice Admiral Satish Soni was received on arrival at the Naval Jetty by Commodore K.A. Bopanna, Naval Officer-in-Charge (NOIC), Andhra Pradesh. The inaugural address was delivered by the NOIC, Andhra Pradesh. Lieutenants Jai Kishore, Shobhit Saxena and Vaibhav Bhardwaj, Commanding Officers of T-38, T-39 and T-40 respectively, read out the commissioning warrants. Hoisting of the naval ensign onboard for the first time and ‘Breaking of the Commissioning Pennant’ with the national anthem being played marked the completion of the commissioning ceremony.

“These ISVs were brought to naval dockyard Mumbai where delivery acceptance trials were carried out. These ships have sailed 1,200 nautical miles from Mumbai to Visakhapatnam over duration of 12 days before getting commissioned at the Eastern Naval Command,” Vice Admiral Satish Soni said while addressing the gathering, adding that the ISVs proved their sturdiness as they crossed successfully the Gulf of Mannar facing strong winds and high seas.

The ISVs are armed with heavy machine guns (HMGs) and are fitted with state-of-the-art radar and navigation equipment. They are fitted with two caterpillar engines of 1,600 MHP each to provide water jet propulsion which provides the vessels a high speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 500 nautical miles. These ships are capable of carrying out day and night surveillance and can be used for rapid insertions/extraction of Marcos for military intervention.