Indian Navy Inducted INS Deepak

Indian Navy, on 21 January 2011, inducted INS Deepak fleet tanker to support Indian warships in all missions abroad and to form an important part of the western fleet as the main re-supply vessel for INS Vikramaditya.

INS Deepak, the tanker ship, was designed by the Italian Fincanteri Shipyard. INS Deepak is one of the largest vessels of the Indian navy. It can refuel large ships like INS Viraat within a short span of time. INS Deepak along with another ship, Shakti, can carry more than 500 tonnes of weapons to re-supply Indian navy soldiers at high sea.

The induction of INS Deepak in the Indian navy will contribute significantly to the ability of the latter to conduct operations distant from the Indian Coast. This would be important in the wake of increased incidents of sea piracy in the Indian Ocean which needs to be tackled successfully to safeguard Indian maritime interests in the Ocean. INS Deepak will also strengthen the national security.

INS Vikramaditya is the Indian name of Admiral Gorshkov, the former Soviet Aircraft carrier, procured by India from Russia. It is likey to enter Indian navy by the end of 2012.