MUMBAI: The country’s first indigenously designed and built warship Indian Naval Ship (INS) Godavari will be decommissioned on December 23 here, thirty-two years after it was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
“With her decommissioning INS Godavari will complete its full life cycle, meeting all responsibilities and duties assigned, proving the success of Indian ship design and construction,” a defence release stated.
Over the past three decades, Godavari has successfully been deployed in numerous operations including ‘Operation Jupiter’ – 1988 (Sri Lanka), ‘Operation Shield’ and ‘Operation Bolster’ – 1994 (de-induction of Indian Army from Somalia) and ‘Patrol of Gulf of Aden’ (PoG) – 2009 and 2011 (anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden), it said.
In 1988, in an operation called ‘Operation Cactus’, India successfully thwarted a coup d’état against Maldivian Government, the release added.
“Godavari and INS Betwa intercepted and arrested the mercenaries, who tried to flee Male on board the Merchant Vessel Progress Light. The mercenaries were later handed over to Male, earning great respect and goodwill for India in the international community,” it said. (AGENCIES)
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