The induction ceremony of the 10th Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barge, LSAM 24 (Yard 134), was held on 22nd April 2025 at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Cmde AKK Reddy, AGM(PR), ND(Mbi).
The contract for the construction and delivery of eleven (11) ACTCM Barges was awarded to M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, Thane, an MSME shipyard, on 5th March 2021. The shipyard has indigenously designed these barges in collaboration with an Indian ship design firm and conducted successful model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, to ensure their seaworthiness. The barges have been constructed in compliance with the relevant naval rules and regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
These barges are proud flag bearers of the Government of India’s “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiatives, which aim to promote self-reliance in defence production. Nine ACTCM barges have already been delivered, and the shipyard has also secured a contract for the construction and delivery of four sullage barges to the Indian Navy, underscoring the Navy’s commitment to supporting MSMEs.
The induction of these barges will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities by facilitating the transportation, embarkation, and disembarkation of articles and ammunition to Navy platforms, both at jetties and in outer harbors.
These indigenously built platforms stand as proud representatives of the Government of India’s flagship initiatives – ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ – demonstrating a strong push towards self-reliance in defence production.
A barge is a type of cargo-carrying vessel designed to transport goods through rivers or canals. Typically, these vessels are long, flat-bottomed boats without a self-propelling mechanism and require a tugboat or tow to move.
Make in India is an initiative by the Government of India aimed at fostering companies to develop, manufacture, and assemble products within India, while also attracting dedicated investments into the manufacturing sector. The policy seeks to create an environment conducive to investment, develop modern and efficient infrastructure, and open up new sectors for foreign capital.
