Cochin Shipyard Limited has handed over Mangrol, the third of eight indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (Mahe class), to the Indian Navy.

The 78-metre vessel is specialized for detecting, tracking and engaging submarines in noisy shallow coastal waters, and can also perform coastal surveillance, search-and-rescue, low-intensity maritime operations and mine-laying.

Around 80% of the ship uses Indian equipment and technology; it meets international DNV standards, marking progress in self-reliance, quality and reduced dependence on foreign suppliers for coastal anti-submarine defence.

On Friday, 21 August, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) handed over a new warship named ‘Mangrol’ to the Indian Navy. This is a proud moment for the country, because Mangrol is the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) that have been fully designed and built in India. The handing over took place at CSL’s Kochi facility, where the delivery document was signed by CSL Director (Operations) Harikrishnan S and Commander U Sharan Kumar, the Commanding Officer (Designate) of Mangrol, in the presence of senior officials from both CSL and the Indian Navy.

To understand why this ship matters, we must first understand the problem it is built to solve. Submarines are underwater vessels that move silently and stay hidden below the surface. In the deep sea, big warships and aircraft can search........

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