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Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel unveils crest of warship ‘Surat’ | Ahmedabad News
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The crest of Indian Navy’s latest guided missile destroyer ‘Surat’ was unveiled by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in the presence of the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and other senior officers at a ceremony held in Surat city Monday.
This is the first warship to be named after a city of Gujarat, and in a first, the unveiling of the crest of a warship was held in the very city after which it has been named, a Defence release said.
The crest of the under-construction warship depicts the famous Hazira lighthouse that was built in 1836 at the southern entrance of Khambhat and an Asiatic lion symbolising majesty and strength.
The fourth ship of the indigenously designed and constructed Project 15B (Visakhapatnam Class) destroyers, ‘Surat’ represents a remarkable leap in naval technology and capabilities. The other three ships commissioned include Visakhapatnam, Mormugao and Imphal. These warships showcase formidable arsenal, including the indigenous BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missiles, Long–range Surface to Air Missiles, and indigenous Torpedo tube launchers.
“Currently, the Surat warship is under construction at Mazagaon Docks Ltd, Mumbai. The commissioning of the warship will be done next year and we hope that the ship comes to Hazira port, so that people of Surat can see it,” Chief of Naval Staff R. Hari Kumar said.
He recalled that Surat was an important maritime trade link between India and many other countries between the 16th and 18th centuries, and has a rich maritime heritage. “The city was also flourishing as the centre for ship-building activities and vessels built in the city. It is a maritime tradition and naval custom that many of the Indian Naval Ships have been named after prominent cities of our country,” he added.
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CM Patel said India is becoming self-reliant in defence technology due to the foresightedness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the warship was aptly named ‘Surat’ because the city was an important maritime link between India and many other countries centuries ago and was a flourishing centre for shipbuilding activities.
“Ships from as many as 84 countries used to dock at Surat port in the past. The people of Surat were experts in shipbuilding. The vessels built in Surat were renowned for their longevity as some ships continued to be in service for more than 100 years,” Patel said.
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