SOURCE: AFI
In a groundbreaking move blending maritime heritage with marine conservation, the Indian Navy handed over INS Guldar, a decommissioned Landing Ship Tank (Medium), to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The vessel, transferred at Karwar on an “as is, where is” basis, will be repurposed into an underwater museum and artificial reef off the Sindhudurg coast—marking India’s first initiative to transform a naval ship into a dual-purpose ecological and tourism asset. This pioneering project underscores a novel approach to preserving naval legacy while boosting coastal tourism and marine biodiversity.
Commissioned on December 30, 1985, at Gdynia Shipyard in Poland, INS Guldar served the Indian Navy for nearly four decades. Initially stationed with the Eastern Naval Command from 1985 to 1995, she later joined the Andaman and Nicobar Command, where she remained until her decommissioning on January 12, 2024. Over her illustrious career, the ship logged over 3,900 days at sea and executed more than 490 beaching operations, playing a vital role in landing Army troops ashore during exercises and operations. Now, her next chapter promises to be just as impactful beneath the waves.
The handover ceremony at Karwar naval base formalized MTDC’s custodianship of INS Guldar, with the Navy relinquishing the vessel in its current state post-decommissioning. MTDC has assumed full responsibility for its conversion, a complex process involving multiple stages. “The ship will be transformed into an underwater museum and artificial reef at Sindhudurg,” an MTDC official stated, outlining plans to clean the vessel thoroughly, removing all potential pollutants and hazardous materials like fuel, oil, and batteries to comply with marine conservation guidelines. This eco-friendly preparation ensures no harm to the fragile underwater ecosystem.
The conversion process, to be executed by MTDC in collaboration with environmental and maritime experts, includes securing necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. Once cleared, the ship will be scuttled—deliberately sunk—in a controlled manner off Sindhudurg, with safety measures to protect divers, marine life, and the coastline. Posts on X have hailed this as a “stroke of genius,” blending tourism with sustainability, with users noting its potential to rival underwater museums like Jordan’s sunken military relics in Aqaba.
Once submerged, INS Guldar will serve as an artificial reef, fostering marine biodiversity by providing a habitat for coral growth, fish, and other aquatic organisms. Sindhudurg, known for its pristine beaches and the historic Sindhudurg Fort, lacks natural reefs, making this initiative a game-changer for the region’s underwater ecosystem. Simultaneously, the ship’s transformation into an underwater museum will attract divers and tourists, offering a tangible link to India’s naval history. Visitors will explore the 60-meter-long hull—once bustling with crew and equipment—now a silent relic adorned with marine life.
The project aligns with global trends, where decommissioned ships like the USS Oriskany in Florida or HMAS Swan in Australia have become dive sites and ecological hubs. For India, it’s a first, amplifying Maharashtra’s tourism portfolio beyond forts and beaches. “This will put Sindhudurg on the global diving map,” an MTDC spokesperson told local media, projecting thousands of visitors annually once operational by late 2025 or early 2026.
Built as part of the Magar-class, INS Guldar (L-21) was designed for amphibious warfare, capable of carrying tanks, troops, and supplies directly onto contested shores. Her 490+ beaching operations highlight her role in supporting joint Army-Navy missions, particularly in the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands—a key outpost near the Malacca Strait. With a displacement of 1,600 tons and a crew of over 100, she was a workhorse until age and technological obsolescence led to her retirement.
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