The keel laying ceremony for the third Cadet Training Ship (Yard No. 18005) was held on December 30, 2024, at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli. The event was presided over by Rear Admiral Ravi Kumar Dhingra, Flag Officer Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Area, in the presence of Rear Admiral G. K. Harish (Retd.), Head of Shipbuilding Business at L&T, along with other senior officials from the Indian Navy and M/s L&T.
The contract for the indigenous design and construction of three Cadet Training Ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and M/s L&T on March 7, 2023. These ships are intended to provide advanced training to officer cadets at sea following their foundational training onshore. The training facilities will also be available for cadets from friendly foreign nations.
This milestone marks another achievement in the Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding, aligning with the Government of India’s vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The Long Term Integrated Perspective Plan (LTIPP 2012–27) outlines the requirement for a fleet of three Cadet Training Ships to strengthen the Indian Navy’s training capabilities.
