INS Surat visits its namesake city; set to dock at Hazira for two days

SURAT : Surat is witnessed the long-awaited arrival of the Indian Navy ship INS Surat, named after the Diamond City, as it docked at Hazira. The ship’s arrival coincides with Gujarat Foundation Day. According to district officials, the stealth guided-missile destroyer will remain at Hazira Port for two days.

Local dignitaries, including elected representatives and senior officials, were present to welcome the vessel, which was given a water cannon salute upon arrival. Visitors also had the opportunity to get a closer look at the warship.

Surat holds the distinction of being the first city in Gujarat to have an Indian naval ship named after it. INS Surat is the fourth and final warship in the Indian Navy’s Project 15B series of stealth destroyers and was commissioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard in January 2025.

The ship’s visit was arranged following a request from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI). INS Surat was fully designed and constructed at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Developed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, it is equipped with advanced sensors and weapon systems, developed either indigenously or through strategic international collaborations.

The warship also features modern aviation infrastructure, allowing it to operate helicopters such as the Chetak, ALH, Sea King, and MH-60R, both during the day and night.