The launch ceremony for the LSAM 18, the ‘Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barge’ and the 4th barge in the 11-part ACTCM Barge Project, took place on February 28, 2024, at M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd in Thane. Commodore Shirish Dube from the Directorate of Ship Production presided over the ceremony.
The contract for constructing the 11 ACTCM Barges was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, on March 5, 2021. The availability of these barges will enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy by facilitating the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition to Navy ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbors.
These indigenously designed and built barges adhere to the relevant Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping. Model testing of the barge during the design stage was conducted at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam. These barges are a testament to the Make in India initiative of the Government of India (GoI).
