Indian Navy Transfers INS Guldar to MTDC for Development of Underwater Museum and Artificial Reef.

Defence

In February 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) handed over the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Guldar, a Landing Ship Tank, to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) at Karwar, Maharashtra, on an 'as is where is' basis for conversion into India's first underwater museum and artificial reef.


      - The MTDC has taken the ship under its charge to convert it into an underwater museum and artificial reef near the Nivati Rocks, off the coast of Vengurla in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra.

     

     

Main Point :-   (i) The conversion process will involve a thorough cleaning of the ship to remove any potential pollutants or hazardous materials, ensuring environmental approvals as per guidelines.

      (ii) The INS Guldar was built at Gdynia Shipyard, Poland, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1985.

(iii) The design was developed in collaboration with the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune, Maharashtra, and the Indian Army.

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