Seaward-class defense boats

Class overview
Name:	Seaward class
Builders:	Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers
Operators:	Indian Navy
Succeeded by:	Trinkat class
Completed:	7
Active:	1
Retired:	6
General characteristics
Type:	Large Patrol Craft
Displacement:	210 tons full load
Length:	37.5 m (123 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × diesel motors with 6,820 hp 2 shafts
Speed:	30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	5,800 nmi (10,700 km; 6,700 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	32
Sensors and processing systems:	BEL 1245 surface radar
Armament:	2 × Bofors 40mm/60 gun 1 × 7.62 mm MG 18 MK 7, 10 MK 12 depth charges

The Seaward-class defence boats are large patrol craft designed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy. Most of these vessels have been decommissioned, due to the large maintenance overhead they require.

Midlife Refits

The ships of this class were built with low strength mild steel and thin plates, and consequently had low corrosion tolerance. As such adhering to prescribed docking intervals was essential.

INS Seaward (T54) was commissioned in September 1982. Its medium refit was due in March 1988 and its long refit in April 1992. Ignoring the vulnerability to corrosion of this ship, the medium refit was delayed by over three years and was carried out from July 1991 to April 1992. As a result, the long refit could not be planned. However, another short refit including the replacement of the engines was taken up in December 1993. The short refit was converted into a medium refit in February 1994. While carrying out repairs, extensive damage to the hull below the waterline was noticed in March 1994. The medium refit was extended to May 1996 because the engines and other materials procured for this ship were used for carrying out ongoing repairs on another, similar, ship (SDBT-55).

Ships

Name	Pennant	Builder	Commissioned	Status
INS Seaward	T-54	GRSE	September 1982	Decommissioned on 20 Jan 2006; Sunk to be made into an artificial reef
INS Seawater	T-55	GRSE		Decommissioned in 2008-2009
INS Seawind	T-56	GRSE		Decommissioned in 2008-2009
INS Seawaves	T-57	GRSE		Decommissioned on Aug 24, 2006 at Vizag
INS Seastorm	T-58	GRSE		Decommissioned on 20 Jul 2010
INS Seasand	T-59	GRSE		Decommissioned on 07 Sept 2009
INS Searock	T-60	GRSE		Decommissioned on 07 Sept 2009

References

• Seaward Defence Boats - Bharat Rakshak
• SDB - Seaward Defense Boats - Global Security