INS Sardar Patel: India Navy gets a full-fledged naval base in Gujarat

By NewsGram Staff Writer

India today commissioned 'INS Sardar Patel', the latest Naval establishment of Indian Navy, at Porbandar in Gujarat today.

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

Speaking on the occasion, Admiral RK Dhowan, said 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. The Admiral also complimented the crew of the INS Sardar Pate land exhorted them to do their best in discharge of their responsibilities.

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. In addition, there are 12 single point moorings (SPMs) in the Gulf of Kutch. Presently 120 million tons, i.e. 71% of the country's oil and 73% of gas is imported though the Gulf of Kutch, which is only steadily increasing.

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. In addition, the industrial development of Gujarat, with its high maritime component and considerable industrial infrastructure on seafront, makes it vulnerable from sea not only during hostilities but also during peacetime. 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.