Cochin Shipyard Limited on Thursday handed over 'Mahe', the first of eight ASW SWCs, or Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, to the Indian Navy.

Mahe, a 78-metre-long warship, is the largest Indian Naval ship powered by a Diesel Engine-Waterjet combination. It has been designed for underwater surveillance, search and rescue operations, and Low Intensity Maritime Operations, or LIMO. The vessel can carry out ASW operations in coastal waters and is equipped with advanced mine-laying capabilities.

"The induction of ASW SWC ships would significantly boost shallow water Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities of the Indian Navy," CSL's official spokesperson said.

The warship Mahe has been designed and built following the Classification Rules of Det Norske Veritas, or DNV.

The acceptance form of the vessel was signed by Dr. S Harikrishnan, Director of Operations at Cochin Shipyard Limited, and Commander Amit Chandra Choubey, Commanding Officer Designate of Mahe, in the presence of Rear Admiral R Adhisrinivasan, CSO Tech of Western Naval Command, Cmde Anup Menon, Warship Production Superintendent, Kochi, and other senior officials from the Indian Navy and CSL.

"Mahe’s delivery is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s quest for indigenous shipbuilding and upholding the Government’s vision of "Aatma Nirbhar Bharat” with over 90% indigenous content. ," the spokesperson said in a statement.