In A First, US Navy Ship Arrives At Indian Shipyard For Repair Services

According to the report, the USNS ‘Charles Drew’ will be at Kattupalli shipyard from August 7 to 17 and all the repair work would be completed by this time.

US navy ship ‘Charles Drew’

New Delhi: In a bid to give further boost to the Indo-US strategic ties, US navy ship ‘Charles Drew’ docked at the Larsen and Toubro shipyard at Kattupalli in Tamil Nadu for undergoing repairs and allied services on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. According to an official release, the US Navy had given a contract to the L&T Shipyard for undertaking maintenance of the ship. According to the PTI report, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area Rear Admiral S Venkat Raman, along with other senior officials of Ministry of Defence visited the shipyard to welcome the vessel.

Consul General of US Embassy in Chennai, Judith Ravin along with Defence Attaché at the US Embassy at New Delhi Rear Admiral Michael Baker were also present.

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Terming the event as 'very significant,' Defence Secretary, Ajay Kumar said, "We are indeed pleased to welcome US Naval Ship USNS Charles Drew to India, for making her voyage ready. India’s initiative also assumes special significance in furthering of the strategic partnership between India and US. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for deeper engagements."

Ravin called the occasion as a new leaf in Indo-US strategic ties, signifying the deepening bonds between the two nations.

Rear Admiral Michael L Baker said, "Our shipping industries positively contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific by partnering to deliver effective, efficient, and economical repair of military vessels."

According to the report, the USNS ‘Charles Drew’ will be at Kattupalli shipyard from August 7 to 17 and all the repair work would be completed by this time.

To a reporters' query about the kind of repairs required for the vessel, an L&T official said that such information cannot be shared as it as a Navy ship from a foreign country.