IRS-class ACTCM barge

The IRS-class ACTCM barge is a series of ammunition barge being built by M/s Suryadipta Projects Pvt Ltd, and SECON Engineering Projects Pvt. Ltd.; MSMEs under a contract for the Indian Navy signed on 5 March, 2021 and 19 February, 2021 respectively. While Suryadipta Projects is from Thane, Maharashtra; and SECON Engineering Projects is from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. As per the contract, Suryadipta Projects will build 11 ACTCM and SECON Engineering Projects will build 8 ACTCM respectively.

The contract is for building a total of 19 indigenously designed and built ACTCM Barge. The model testing of the barge during design stage was undertaken at NSTL, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh under relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping. The barges are being built under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiative of the government of India.

Description
IRS-class Ammunition-Cum-Torpedo-Cum-Missile (ACTCM) barge are to be inducted in the Indian Navy to undertake the mission needs for transport, embarking or disembarking of ammunition, torpedo, missile, articles, etc. on the IN ships, thereby providing impetus to operational commitments of the navy both alongside jetties and outer harbors boosting operational readiness and effectiveness. The ACTCM barges are also referred to MCA (Missile Cum Ammunition) barges, but all are designated as Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM). All major and auxiliary equipment/systems on the barge, which is set to have a service life of 30 years have been sourced from indigenous manufacturers.

Delivery of the first barge LSAM 15 (Yard 125) to Indian Navy was done on 9 June 2023. LSAM 7 to 14 is being built by SECON Engineering and LSAM 15 to 25 is being built by Suryadipta Projects. Currently, 11 ACTCM barges have been launched and inducted into the Indian Navy, with Suryadipta Projects delivering 6 barges and SECON Engineering delivering 5 barges. The barge has a cargo hold of 100 tonnes. The barge has ample facilities for fire fighting, power generation, and crew accommodation.