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Port Blair, Jan 31: Indian Navy LCU L 33, the oldest amphibious warship of Andaman and Nicobar Command is tentatively scheduled to be decommissioned in mid April 14. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1st Dec 1980 at Goa by Rear Admiral Subir Paul, VrC, and has been part of all major operations in this Far Eastern Sea board during her 33 long years of service to the nation.

One of the first few indigenously designed ships, commissioned into the Indian Navy, it was manufactured by Goa Shipyard Limited, Vasco-da-Gama. The ship is the only unit in Andaman and Nicobar Command to receive the Unit Citation from the Chief of Naval Staff in 1999 and CINCAN’s Citation in 2013. The ship also participated in relief operations in Sri Lanka during the Tsunami of 2004, and was commended by then President of Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, for her role in humanitarian services following the Tsunami disaster. L 33 played a vital role in the rescue of stranded tourist from Neil Island during the recent ‘Cyclone Leher’ during which she battled rough seas and recovered 97 tourists from Neil Island. The ship has also been involved with the training of the marine police at Diglipur, Rangat, Mayabander and Hut Bay.

The ship sailed for the last time on 24th Jan 14 and has traversed a distance of 1,15,500 NM at sea. In her last Operational Cycle, the ship has carried out all tasks set forth by the Command and has been at sea for around 205 days.

 

The present and last Commanding Officer, Lt Cdr Rajesh Shivadas had this to say about the grand old lady, “After the glorious of 33 years in the service of her nation, IN LCU L 33 is ready to serve the nation in different way.”