 INSDeepak | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 India | |
| Name | Deepak |
| Namesake | Oil lamp |
| Builder | Fincantieri |
| Yard number | 6186 |
| Launched | 13 February 2010 |
| Commissioned | 21 January 2011 |
| Identification | |
| Motto | Anything, Anywhere |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Deepak-classfleet tanker |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 175 m (574 ft 2 in) |
| Beam | 25 m (82 ft 0 in) |
| Draft | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) (Maximum) |
| Depth | 19.3 m (63 ft 4 in) |
| Decks | 10 |
| Installed power | 2 xMAN diesel engines, 18.6 MW (24,900 hp) |
| Propulsion | Single shaft;controllable-pitch propeller |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Endurance | 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | |
INSDeepak is aDeepak-classfleet tanker built byFincantieri.Deepak waslaunched on 13 February 2010 andcommissioned on 21 January 2011.[2][3]
TheDeepak-class tanker can carry 17,900tonnes (17,600long tons; 19,700short tons) of cargo, including 15,500 tonnes (15,300 long tons; 17,100 short tons) tons of liquid cargo (water, ship and aircraft fuel) and 500 tonnes (490 long tons; 550 short tons) tons of solid cargo (victuals and ammunition). The vessel can handle 16 cargocontainers on the upper deck and was equipped with an eight-bed hospital, with laboratory and X-ray facilities.[4] The modern cargo handling facility on board the ship enables transfer of heavy solid cargo via a 30-tonne (30-long-ton; 33-short-ton) capacity deck crane, and simultaneous fueling of multiple ships at sea, and can refuel at the rate of 1,500 tonnes (1,500 long tons; 1,700 short tons) per hour.[2][5]Deepak can refuel four ships at the same time.[6] Workshop facilities on the ship can support other ships of the fleet and it is capable of supporting heavy helicopters.[7]
Deepak was delivered within a record 27 months.[6] There were allegations of the then rulingUPA government having engaged in corruption by allowing Fincantieri to buildShakti (Deepak's sister ship) andDeepak using commercial grade steel, instead of military grade steel as per the norm. TheComptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) questioned in 2010 why the order was not given toRosoboronexport, which had offered to use military grade steel for the construction of the tankers. The CAG also questioned the excess supply of spare parts worth $6 million (equivalent to $8,383,336 in 2023), and the inadequate purchases from Indian industry. The two tankers cost $200 million (equivalent to $279,444,529 in 2023).Fincantieri reportedly used DH-36 civilian grade steel instead of the DMR-249A military grade steel as stipulated.[8]India Today reported that theDefense Minister ofthe succeeding government,Manohar Parrikar, had ordered a probe into the matter.[9] TheDefence Ministry issued a press release the next day, clarifying that no probe had been ordered,[10] and that steel of an inferior quality had not been used, but did not clarify why military grade steel was not used.[11] The same day,Kirit Somaiya, anMP on thePublic Accounts Committee, demanded a probe into the matter.[12]
Deepak, along withINS Delhi took part in India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Exercise (IBSAMAR III) during October 2012. These ships docked atDurban for three days as part of the deployment.[4][13]
Deepak andDelhi, along withINS Trishul and theINS Tabar, visitedDubai in September 2015.Deepak andDelhi, along withINS Tarkash, visited Dubai on 1 June 2016 for a four-day visit, and the three ships conductedexercises with theUAE Navy.[14]
INSVikrant (R11) and itsCarrier Battle Group (CBG), includingDeepak, took part in the biennial Exercise Konkan 2025 with theRoyal Navy'sUK Carrier Strike Group 2025 (UK CSG 25), a formation centred onHMS Prince of Wales (R09), between 5 and 12 October 2025 off the Western Coast of India. This is the maiden instance of a dual carrier operation between the countries.[15][16][17] While the UK CSG includedHMS Richmond (F239) andRFATidespring (A136) along withHNoMS Roald Amundsen (F311) of theRoyal Norwegian Navy andJS Akebono (DD-108) of theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force,[18] the Indian Navy's CBG includedINS Kolkata (D63),INS Mormugao (D67),INS Surat (D69),INS Tabar (F44) andINS Teg (F45).[19][20] The 2021 edition, named Konkan Shakti, was the largest exercise in the series in which all three services of both countries participated. On 8 October, theIndian Air Force deployed itsSu-30MKI andJaguar aircraft for a one-day exercise with the group.[21][16][17]
