NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Mangrol, its third anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC), in Mumbai on Monday, bolstering its capabilities to detect and counter submarine threats in coastal waters and protect key maritime installations.Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, the vessel is designed to operate in shallow waters where larger warships face operational limitations. It can work alongside maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and other naval vessels to detect and counter underwater threats.The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command.INS Mangrol has been built with more than 80 per cent indigenous content, reflecting India’s growing capabilities in warship design, construction and the integration of advanced weapons and sensors, the Navy said.The vessel is equipped with an Abhay hull-mounted sonar, lightweight torpedoes, an indigenous anti-submarine rocket launcher and the Maareech Advanced Torpedo Decoy System. These systems are designed to help detect underwater threats and counter hostile submarines in coastal waters.Powered by three diesel engines with waterjet propulsion, INS Mangrol offers the manoeuvrability required for operations in shallow waters. Besides anti-submarine warfare, it can undertake underwater surveillance, low-intensity maritime operations and mine warfare-related tasks.Its induction is expected to strengthen the Navy’s ability to protect ports, harbours and coastal approaches while supporting wider fleet operations amid evolving maritime security challenges.Named after Mangrol, a coastal town and prominent fishing harbour in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, the vessel carries forward the legacy of the earlier INS Mangrol (M85), a minesweeper that served the Indian Navy until April 2004.INS Mangrol is the third vessel in the Navy’s ASW-SWC series, following INS Arnala, commissioned in June 2025, and INS Androth, commissioned in October 2025. The three vessels are designed to strengthen India’s coastal anti-submarine warfare capabilities and safeguard key maritime assets from underwater threats.The commissioning also advances India’s push towards indigenous warship construction and the development of specialised vessels tailored to its coastal security requirements.