INS Shakti (A57)

INS Shakti
History
India
NameShakti
Builder
Yard number6186
Launched11 October 2010
Commissioned1 October 2011
Identification
MottoAnything, Anywhere
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class & typeDeepak-class fleet tanker
Displacement27,550 t (27,110 long tons)
Length175 m (574 ft 2 in)
Beam25 m (82 ft 0 in)
Draft9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) (maximum)
Depth19.3 m (63 ft 4 in)
Decks10
Installed power2 × MAN diesel engines, 19.2 MW (25,700 hp)
PropulsionSingle shaft; controllable-pitch propeller
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Endurance10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement180 sailors and 20 officers
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Chaff launcher system
Armament4 × AK-630 close-in weapons system
Aircraft carriedVarious helicopters
Aviation facilitiesAviation hangar
NotesCargo capacity: 17,900 t (17,600 long tons; 19,700 short tons) at full load

INS Shakti (A57) (lit. Strength) is a Deepak-class fleet tanker in service with the Indian Navy. She was built by Fincantieri, an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste. She is the second and final ship of her class. Shakti, along with her predecessor Deepak, is one of the largest ships of the Indian Navy.

The construction of the vessel began in November 2009 and she was launched in October 2010. She was handed over to India by September 2011 and was commissioned on 1 October 2011. The construction of the vessel was completed in a record time of 27 months, after the contract worth €159.32 million was signed in April 2008.

INS Shakti can refuel four ships at a time, with a fuelling speed of 1,500 tonnes per hour while her predecessors had a speed of 300 per hour. She is also equipped with state-of-the art electronics, medical facilities and storage spaces. According to Admiral Nirmal Verma, Shakti would significantly add to the Indian Navy's ability to conduct and sustain operations distant from the coast.