USNS Charles Drew became the foremost US Navy vessel to circulation to an Indian shipyard for repairs (Indian Defence Ministry pronounce)
Published
Aug 8, 2022 5: 26 PM by
The Maritime Govt
In a first-of-its-form circulation designed to augment the U.S. space with India, the U’S’ Navy’s Protection force Sealift Dispute sent one of its vessels for upkeep and repairs at an Indian shipyard. While the mission itself perchance be smaller in scope, the significance of the U.S. Navy contracting for work in India is serving as a well-known diplomatic second, gaining plentiful publicity in India and designed to augment cooperation between the U.S. and India.
The USNS Charles Drew, one of a category of 14 dry cargo ships in the Protection force Sealift Dispute Combat Logistics Force, arrived on August 7 at the L&T (Larsen & Toubro) Kattupalli shipyard in Chennai, India. The vessel is scheduled to exercise 11 days at the yard and changed into greeted by India’s Defence Secretary and senior members of the navy besides the members of the workers from the U.S. Consul in Chennai.
Terming the occasion as a crimson-letter day for the Indian shipbuilding change and the Indo-US defense relationship, Indian Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar stated, “We are indeed joyful to welcome US Naval Ship USNS Charles Drew to India, for making her voyage ready. India’s initiative also assumes particular significance in furthering the strategic partnership between India and the US. It marks the starting up of a brand new chapter for deeper engagements.”
He identified that India has grown its exports and specifically to the usa in most up-to-date years as segment of a Made in India marketing campaign. The nation will more than likely be rising its domestic shipbuilding change. Dr, Kumar highlighted that India nowadays has six foremost shipyards with revenues of nearly $2 billion.
“This inaugural restore of USNS Charles Drew is a landmark construction to be infamous as a image of our bolstered US-India partnership,” stated U.S. Consul Frequent in Chennai Judith Ravin stated. “In April, at the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, U.S. Secretary of Bid Antony Blinken and Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin affirmed their scheme to assemble using Indian shipyards for repairs on U.S. Navy vessels. “
The USNS Charles Drew is 689 feet lengthy with a displacement of 41,000 heaps. Succesful of touring at speeds of as much as 20 knots, the ship is manned by a 53-member crew. She will be able to elevate over 6,600 a ramification of dry cargo, over 1,700 a ramification of refrigerated retail outlets, and 18,000 barrels of cargo gas. MSC refers to her missions as the “narrate supplies to buyer ships at sea.” The class is designed to provide ammunition, meals, restore parts, retail outlets, and cramped portions of gas. Two of the vessels are devoted to the U.S. Marine Corps. The Charles Drew has been working for MSC in the Pacific since 2011.