Chennai, Mar 28 (Agency) US Naval Ship ‘USNS Matthew Perry’, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship of the United States Navy, has successfully completed maintenance and repair work at Larsen & Toubro Limited’s facility in Kattupalli near here, commonly known as L&T shipyard, from March 11 to 27. USNS Matthew Perry is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to complete maintenance works in India, after USNS Charles Drew completed voyage repair at L&T shipyard in August 2022. The larger scope of work on Matthew Perry reflects the US Navy’s intention to work towards routinely accomplishing a broader scope of vessel repairs in Indian shipyards, a release from the US Consulate General Chennai said on Tuesday.
USNS Matthew Perry’s visit demonstrates the commitment of US Navy and Department of Defense to utilize repair facilities in India, after US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed intent at the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington in April 2022.United States Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin said “The US is a proud Indo-Pacific nation, and our vital interests are inextricably tied to the region. India is an important partner of the United States in the Indo Pacific.” “I am confident the USNS Matthew Perry’s maintenance and repair works in India will further strengthen our bond. Our shipping industries positively contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific by partnering to deliver effective, efficient, and economical repair of military vessels”, Judith Ravin said.With a length and width of 210 and 32.3 meters, respectively, and registered tonnage of 35,300T, the USNS Matthew Perry was named after Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), who led a squadron of ships to Japan in 1853 with the aim of opening that nation to trade. He served during the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War and was sent to suppress piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies.