INS Sharda (P55)

INS Sharda (P55) is a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.

Operations
On 17 May 2017, the ship rescued a Liberian registered merchant vessel, MV Mountbatten, from pirates while on patrol in the gulf of Aden.

2024 Anti-piracy Patrols
On 2 February 2024, INS Shardha thwarted another piracy attempt off the Somali coast and rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel (FV) and its crew of 11 Iranians and 8 Pakistanis. Indian Navy's remotely piloted aircraft located FV Omari, and offshore patrol vessel INS Sharda, deployed for an anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat. FV Omari had been boarded by seven pirates who had taken the crew as hostages using her integral helicopter and boats, the ship coerced the pirates for safe release of crew along with the vessel.

On 6 April 2024, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar awarded 'On the Spot Unit Citation' to INS Sharda for its anti piracy operation off the Eastern coast of Somalia on 2 February 2024.