The second Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L52 of Mk-IV class, an amphibious ship to transport combat equipment and troops of the Navy, designed and built by Garden Reach Ship Builders (GRSE), was commissioned at Port Blair on Monday.
These ships would be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Command and can be deployed for multi-role activities such as beaching operations, search and rescue, disaster relief operations, supply and replenishment and evacuation from distant islands.
The ship, commanded by Commander Kaushik Chatterjee, has a complement of five officers and 46 sailors and is capable of carrying 160 troops in addition. Displacing 830 tonnes, it is capable of transporting various kinds of combat equipment such as Arjun main battle tanks.
