VESSEL REVIEW | INS Samarthak – Multi-purpose support vessel and trial platform delivered to Indian Navy

Dedicated test and support platform to free up warships for frontline duties

Beyond trials, the vessel carries a set of general-purpose capabilities that reflect its multi-purpose designation. It can tow other ships, and L&T lists sea-pollution response among its roles, as well as salvage and heavy-lift capability along with support for interceptor and salvage vessel operations. Limited hospital facilities are available aboard the ship, which can also carry out logistics runs to India's remote island territories, which sit at the centre of its HADR tasking.

"Samarthak is not limited to one specific task but is engineered to support a wide spectrum of activities, thereby embodying the concept of a multi-purpose vessel," the MOD said in its delivery statement.

Samarthak was launched at Kattupalli on October 14, 2024; sister ship Utkarsh followed within three months.

Design engineering for both MPVs was carried out at L&T's Warship Design Centre in Chennai, with construction at Kattupalli.

The delivery gives the Indian Navy a purpose-built alternative to using frontline warships as testbeds. Weapons and sensors emerging from domestic development programmes can be fitted, fired and recovered from a hull designed around that cycle, while the same ship remains available for towing, island logistics and disaster relief when the trial calendar allows.

Utkarsh is expected to enter into service after completing her own sea trials.