Archive · 10 Jan 2026
Indian Navy Establishes Haldia Base for Maritime Security
The Indian Navy is building a new base in Haldia, West Bengal.
This base will help the Navy keep an eye on the northern part of the Bay of Bengal.
The base will have small, fast boats that can move quickly and are good for different jobs.
The Navy chose Haldia because it is close to the sea and avoids a long trip up the Hooghly River.
This new base is important because there are more Chinese ships in the area and some people are trying to enter India illegally by sea.
The base will have about 100 people working there.
The Indian government has approved the purchase of more of these fast boats for the Navy.
Indian Navy is establishing a new base in Haldia, West Bengal to strengthen maritime presence in the northern Bay of Bengal.
The base will house Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) and New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC).
The base will have around 100 officers and personnel and will avoid the long journey up the Hooghly River.
The base is significant due to increasing Chinese naval presence and maritime threats from Bangladesh.
The Defence Acquisition Council approved the Navy’s proposal to procure 120 FICs and 31 NWJFACs in 2024.
- Who
- Indian Navy
- What
- Establishing a new naval base in Haldia, West Bengal
- When
- Work has begun; specific timeline not mentioned
- Where
- Haldia, West Bengal, about 100 km from Kolkata
- Why
- To bolster maritime monitoring amid increasing Chinese naval presence and regional security concerns
- Location
- Haldia, West Bengal
- Purpose
- Strengthen maritime monitoring in the northern Bay of Bengal
- Vessels
- Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) and New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC)
- Personnel
- Around 100 officers and personnel
- Significance
- Counter Chinese naval presence and maritime threats
- Approval
- Defence Acquisition Council in 2024
- FIC Specifications
- 100 tonnes, 45 knots, armed with machine guns, 10–12 personnel
