Indian Register of Shipping Celebrates Keel Laying Ceremony for Cadets’ Training Ship in Chennai, India

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) recently celebrated the keel laying ceremony of the first Cadets’ Training Ship being constructed under IRS classification at L&T’s shipyard in Chennai, India. This vessel is the initial one in a series of three ships currently being built under IRS’s supervision, with an expected delivery date of October 2026. The ship is designed to accommodate 210 Naval cadets, including 60 female cadets and those from overseas.

Equipped with modern facilities, these Cadets’ Training Ships aim to provide practical and theoretical training to cadets, preparing them for the future needs of the Indian Navy and foreign navies whose cadets are enrolled. Moreover, the ships are capable of being deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Cdr. KK Dhawan (Retd), Head Defence of IRS, expressed pride in the keel laying ceremony, emphasizing IRS’s commitment to supporting Indian shipbuilding and related industries by sourcing equipment and systems from indigenous manufacturers.

IRS’s involvement in the construction of these Cadets’ Training Ships aligns with the Indian Navy’s focus on indigenous shipbuilding and the Government of India’s initiatives towards ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’. By collaborating with Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), IRS reaffirms its dedication to boosting the Indian maritime industry. This milestone represents a significant step in enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Navy and fostering self-reliance in the country’s shipbuilding sector.

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