Navy inducts fleet tanker INS Shakti

NEW DELHI: The Navy has got another major booster dose in its blue-water warfare and strategic reach capabilities, thanks to the induction of the second new fleet tanker from Italy this year.The tanker INS Shakti was commissioned by Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma at Visakhapatnam on Saturday, and joins the first one INS Deepak inducted earlier in the year.Much like mid-air refuellers extend theoperational range of fighter jets, INS Deepak and INS Shakti will enabledestroyers, frigates and other warships to operate for prolonged periods on thehigh seas without returning to harbour for replenishment."The ship(INS Shakti) enhances the Navy's reach well beyond the limits of the IndianOcean," said Admiral Verma during the commissioning ceremony.With afull-load displacement of 27,500 tonne, the 175-metre-long INS Deepak or INSShakti can carry 17,900 tonne of cargo, including 15,250 tonne of fuel. Equippedwith four AK-630 guns each, the large ships built by Fincantieri Cantieri Navaliof Italy have an endurance of 10,000 nautical miles at a speed of 16knots.Induction of the tankers is in tune with India's endeavour tobuild a powerful three-dimensional blue-water Navy to protect its geo-strategicinterests stretching from Hormuz Strait to Malacca Strait.