INS Gomati, oldest warrior of Western Fleet, decommissioned after 34 years of service

Mumbai, May 30: The Indian Navy Ship (INS) Gomati was decommissioned on May 28 from the naval dockyard in Mumbai, informed the Ministry of Defence in an official release.

 

The ship was paid off under the command of Captain Sudip Malik in a poignant ceremony. "Having served the nation and the Indian Navy with great distinction for 34 eventful years, INS Gomati was decommissioned at sunset at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 28 May 2022, in an elegant, solemn and poignant ceremony. The ship was paid off under the command of Captain Sudip Malik," the ministry said.

 

 

INS Gomati derives her name from the vibrant river Gomti and was commissioned on 16 April 1988 by former Defence Minister KC Pant, at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Bombay. The third ship of the Godavari class guided-missile frigates, INS Gomati was also the oldest warrior of the Western Fleet when decommissioned.

 

"After INS Gomati's decommissioning, the ship's legacy will be kept alive in an open-air museum being set up on the picturesque banks of the eponymous river Gomti in Lucknow where several of her combat systems will be displayed as military and war relics," read the statement.

 

INS Gomati derives her name from the vibrant river Gomti and was commissioned on 16 April 1988 by then defence minister,KC Pant, at Mazagon Dock Limited (Mumbai).

 

 

During her service, she participated in Operations Cactus, Parakram and Rainbow, and several bilateral and multinational naval exercises. For her remarkable spirit and stellar contribution to national maritime security, she was twice awarded the coveted Unit Citation, once in 2007-08 and again in 2019-20.