From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Panaji, Jan 26: INS Sudarshini, Indian Navy's second sail training ship commissioned in its fleet which was in a ceremony held at port town of Vasco.

INS Sudarshini, the ship constructed by  Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) Letha Sushil, wife of Vice Admiral K N Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding- in- Chief Southern Naval Command.

Vice Admiral K N Sushil, Rear Admiral Prem Kumar Nair, Assistant Controller Warship Production and Acquisition, Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai,  Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area, Vineet Bakhshi, Chairman and Managing Director, GSL and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

GSL spokesman said that sail Training ships are increasingly being used as basic seamanship and character building platforms by Navies the world over.

“Built for worldwide operations, INS Sudarshini is steel hulled, round bilged, three masted sailing ship, square rigged on the forward and main mast and fore and aft rigged on the mizzen mast with eighteen sails having a sail area of approximately 1035 square metres,” he said.

With a very high endurance, the ship can be deployed at sea continuously for a period of twenty days. It can accommodate 61 persons and be under sail or propulsion power or a combination of both.