Indian Navy's 3rd Talwar class frigate to be launched Wednesday

KALININGRAD (BNS): Russia’s Yantar shipyard will float out Indian Navy’s third Talwar-class guided missile frigate, INS Trikand, on Wednesday.

The new class of warship, being built at the Baltic Shipyard in Kaliningrad, under Project 11356, will be launched in the presence of high level Indian and Russian defence and other officials, according toRus Navy.

India will get frigates on time, all problems are resolvable – an official

Despite some difficulties, frigates built in Kaliningrad for Indian Navy will be delivered to the customer on terms specified in the contract, reported ITAR-TASS citing Alexander Fomin, deputy director of Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) appearing today at the Aero India 2011 international exhibition in Bangalore. 

"The works go on; two ships have been already launched and the third one is being prepared for launching. Of course, there are some minor problems, but we handle them", Fomin said. 

The $1.6 bln shipbuilding contract was tied with India in summer 2006. It is planned to deliver frigates to the customer in 2011-2012. First three Project 1135.6 frigates cost India over $1 bln and were built by Baltiysky Zavod. Ships were delivered in 2003-2004, one year behind the schedule. 

Yantar shipyard launches Indian frigate in March

Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad, Russia) plans to launch third frigate [last in series] for Indian Navy in mid-March, reported yesterday RIA Novosticiting Sergei Mikhailov, the shipyard's press secretary. 

"Technically, the ship is being prepared for launching in mid-March; this is the last of three ships of 'Indian' project 11356, she is called Trikand which means "Bow", said Mikhailov. 

Yantar has been building second series of frigates [in Russian classification – escort ships] for Indian Navy since 2006. First two ships – Teg ("Saber") and Tarkash ("Quiver") – have been already launched. 

Indian Navy to salvage sunken frigate

The Indian Navy says it will salvage the Nilgiri class frigate INS Vindhyagiri off the bottom of Mumbai harbour after the vessel sunk there last Monday following a collision with a cargo vessel.

On Sunday afternoon last week a convoy of navy ships was coming into Mumbai harbour after a ‘day at sea’ for families of sailors and officers. INS Vindhyagiri was in the fifth position coming towards the naval dockyard, which is on the far side of the port. Because of the naval dockyard’s location, ships often have to cross each other’s paths.

As the convoy was entering the port, the Cyprus flagged loaded container ship MV Nordlake was leaving the dock for the open sea. The lead ship in the naval convoy established communications with Nordlake and it was decided that both would go to the right of each other.

The ships behind the lead ship had to follow its course. However, INS Godavari had fallen behind and established its own communications with Nordlake, asking that both ships pass to the left of each other.

Damaged Indian frigate sank

Being damaged during exit of Mumbai port, an Indian frigate sank after an onboard fire, reports ITAR-TASS referring to Egyptian news agencies. So far, none official representatives have commented the accident. 

INS Vindhyagiri collided with commercial vessel North Lake while leaving Mumbai port on Sunday. As a result, the frigate's bow was damaged; the ship was towed to a naval base. This morning a fire occurred on board the warship. All crewmembers were evacuated. Firefighters failed to bring the fire under control. 

The ship had been in service since 1981.