US Navy ship docks in India for repairs under new pact

Chennai: US Navy Ship Salvor, a Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship, arrived at Larsen and Toubro's Kattupalli shipbuilding yard near here for repairs under the Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) signed last month between India and the US, a senior official of L&T said on Monday.

The USNS Salvor was welcomed with a ceremony at the shipyard on Monday, and it is the first ship to arrive after the signing of the MSRA.

The five-year agreement will see India's leading private defence company repair the US vessels, said Executive Vice President and Head L&T Defense Arun Ramchandani.

The Military Sealift Command's rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) arrived at L&T Kattupalli shipyard for voyage repairs on July 9. It is the third US Navy ship visiting the L&T shipyard for voyage repairs, after USNS Charles Drew and USNS Matthew Perry.

After the repair and maintenance is carried out, the vessel will resume its journey after a fortnight.

US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin, US Embassy New Delhi's Office of Defence Cooperation chief Captain Michael L Farmer, and senior US Embassy officials participated in the welcoming ceremony along with Ramchandani and others from L&T leadership. (PTI)