Mumbai. INS Tushil, the first of the two Additional P1135.6 follow-on ships, proudly sailed into her home port, Karwar, on February 14. This marked the culmination of a historic journey that panned over 12,500 nautical miles. The ship sailed from Kaliningrad, Russia, on December 18, 2024 and visited eight countries across three continents.
The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 9, 2024, in a ceremony held at Kaliningrad, Russia, in the presence of the Defence Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh. The ceremony was attended by Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy, and Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, along with other senior dignitaries from both countries. Prior this, the ship’s crew underwent rigorous training and familiarisation with the ship’s systems, followed by proving of various trials and weapon firings. The crew’s stay in Russia was enriched by cultural and social events to foster greater understanding and cooperation between the two nations.
As a part of her maiden passage around the West coast of Europe and Africa, the ship furthered international cooperation by visiting ports of London (United Kingdom), Casablanca (Morocco), Dakar (Senegal), Lome (Togo), Lagos (Nigeria), Walvis Bay (Namibia), Durban (South Africa), and Victoria (Seychelles). During the port visits, the crew engaged in various professional interactions and undertook capability enhancement and collaborative efforts with the host navies. Engagements with the Indian Diaspora at the ports visited were also undertaken. These visits helped strengthen India’s diplomatic ties with friendly nations while showcasing the Indian Navy’s capabilities and reach. INS Tushil undertook Maritime Partnership Exercises (MPX) with the navies of Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa, demonstrating the Indian Navy’s commitment to maritime cooperation and interoperability. Besides this, the ship also undertook patrolling off the Gulf of Guinea during her transit, partnering in regional maritime security.
The ship was accorded a ceremonial welcome on arrival at Karwar. The ceremony, presided over by Rear Admiral Ajay Patney, Admiral Superintendent of Yard (Karwar), witnessed the participation of senior officers of Karnataka Naval Area and the family members. The crew met with their families after over seven months, and the warmth was felt all around with the loud cheers from the families, the war cry of the ship – “Nirbhay Abhedya aur Balsheel” and the Tushil song reverberating in the air. The ship would progress her integration with fleet and be poised to undertake assigned tasks.
