Port Blair: The Indian Navy welcomed two new 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tugs, Bhishm (Yard 335) and Bahubali (Yard 336), in a grand induction ceremony at the Naval Ship Repair Yard (NSRY), Port Blair. Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan, Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command, presided over the event.
These tugs, designed indigenously under the Government of India’s Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, are a product of a collaboration between Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, and an Indian ship designing firm. Built to meet the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), these vessels are a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing.
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Equipped to assist with berthing, un-berthing, and maneuvering of naval ships and submarines in confined waters, the tugs will enhance the efficiency of naval operations. They also have advanced capabilities such as afloat fire-fighting, limited search and rescue (SAR) operations, and support for anchored vessels.
The contract for the construction of six 25T BP tugs was signed on 12 November 2021. The induction of Bhishm and Bahubali marks a significant step in bolstering maritime infrastructure and operational readiness for the Indian Navy.
