The Indian Navy decommissioned an indigenously built frigate and three Russian-built minesweepers in separate ceremonies on March 22 and 23.
Both the frigate and the minesweepers provided over 30 years of service for the Indian Navy.
INS Ganga, the indigenously-built Godavari-class guided-missile frigate, was paid off in Mumbai on March 22. The decommissioning ceremony was attended by officers and men, both serving and retired, who had served onboard the ship in the past.
The frigate was built in Mumbai by Mazagon Dock Limited and commissioned on December 30, 1985.
The three Karwar-class minesweepers were decommissioned in a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on March 23. Indian Naval Ships Konkan, Cannanore and Cuddalore were built in the former Soviet Union and were commissioned into Indian Navy service in 1987 and 1988.
The Karwar-class of mine counter measure vessels was expected to be replaced by new vessels built by India’s Goa Shipyard Limited in cooperation with Kangnam Corporation of South Korea but the agreement fell through earlier this year according to media reports which cited high costs and compliance issues as major factors in the cancellation of the deal.
A new request for proposals was issued by the Indian defense minister and a new timeline for the delivery of vessels will have to be developed.