Shipwright School, the Indian Navy’s training establishment for architect officers, shipwright officers, and shipwright sailors, was commissioned as INS Vishwakarma on Saturday.
The commissioning of the seven-decade-old training establishment is meant to enhance the Navy’s in-house design and maintenance capabilities.
“This is a milestone in the long journey of the Shipwright School, which has contributed to transforming the Indian Navy into a designer’s and builder’s Navy,” Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan said at the commissioning ceremony.
The Shipwrights School has been training officers and sailors of the Indian Navy to keep its fleet fighting fit, he added.
‘Matter of pride’
“It is a matter of pride that 47 ships and submarines are being built at Indian shipyards. The country has achieved near 100 per cent indigenisation of these new ships. Our aircraft carrier under construction, INS Vikrant, is being built with Indian steel. Such achievements make every Indian proud,” Adm. Dhowan said.
The Navy chief was all praise for the efforts of the officers and men of the Shipwright School in reviving the facility within a couple of weeks of being devastated by cyclone Hudhud last October.
“When I visited then, I felt it might be impossible for the Shipwright School to be restored. But then, I realised the word ‘impossible’ does not exist in the dictionary of the Eastern Naval Command, whose officers and men bounced back from the extensive destruction,” Adm. Dhowan said.
Commodore Ajay Ghule, the commanding officer (designate), read out the commissioning warrant.
The establishment was formally named by Payal Soni, wife of Vice-Admiral Satish Soni.
The commissioning plaque was unveiled by Admiral Dhowan, Payal Soni, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni, and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba.
