The Indian Navy inducted its first indigenously built multi-purpose vessel at Karwar, a private-sector-built platform meant for surveillance, trials and support roles.

BulletsIn

• The Indian Navy commissioned Samarthak at Naval Base Karwar (INS Kadamba) in Karnataka on 16 October 2026.
• It was built by Larsen and Toubro under the Make in India initiative and is the first of four multi-purpose vessels being inducted.
• The ship was designed and built in-house at L&T's Kattupalli shipyard near Chennai and carries more than 75% indigenous content.
• Designed mainly for maritime surveillance and patrol, it can also conduct low-intensity maritime operations.
• It can serve as a target deployment and trials platform and as a mothership for unmanned and autonomous systems.
• Further roles include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, conversion to a limited hospital ship, and salvage operations.
• The name Samarthak means supporter, reflecting the range of roles planned for the vessel.
• Its integrated combat suite combines indigenous sensors, weapons and electronic systems optimised for demanding maritime conditions.
• The ship was launched on 14 October 2024 at L&T's Kattupalli yard.
• At launch the vessel was described as 106 metres long and 16.8 metres wide, with a maximum speed of 15 knots.
• The ship's crest shows an Indian elephant emerging from the waves, and its motto translates as victory being the sole aim.
• L&T's Kattupalli yard is building the second multi-purpose vessel and three Cadet Training Ships for the Navy.

Tags: INSSamarthak, MultiPurposeVessel, MakeInIndia