Naval Trials and Acceptance Authority

1. Introduction

The role of Indian Navy, nature of deployments, areas of operation and interest have been progressively expanding in the last several years. Indian Naval platforms are accordingly required to sustain longer mission based deployments away from base ports, without encountering crippling defects. Materiel readiness to commensurate with these mission requirements is to be achieved by an effective ‘Trials Framework’. Accordingly, Naval Trials and Acceptance Authority (NATAA) was formed wef 01 Jan 22. With this strengthening, all trial and acceptance agencies have been brought under its purview with the aim of synergizing and facilitating single point responsibility and accountability. The major charter of duties of NATAA includes the following:-

• Acceptance Trials of new construction ships and submarines prior delivery to the Indian Navy.
• PRT for benchmarking the performance and refinement of DL.
• Trials and Materiel Readiness post refit of ships and submarines facilitating seamless transition to combat ready platform.

2. Organisation

NATAA is headed by Director General NATAA of the rank of Rear Admiral (Tech) under Chief of Materiel. NAATA coordinates amongst 20 trial units at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Kolkata, Goa and Port Blair for joint inspection and integrated trials.

3. Trial Teams

4. Methodology

New Construction Ships and Submarines. NATAA co-ordinates with Overseeing Teams, Command HQs and Trial units for conduct of Integrated Installation Inspection checks and comprehensive acceptance trials of machinery and systems. Post satisfactory trials, approvals for conduct of Basin Trials, Contractor’s Sea Trials (CST) and Full Machinery Trials (FMT) is accorded. A comprehensive ‘Acceptance Trials Report’ is prepared by NATAA post commissioning of the platform.

Refit Ships and Submarines. NATAA, in co-ordination with Command HQs, Refitting Authorities, COMCOS, Trial and Acceptance units and respective ships/ submarines, is involved in the conduct of comprehensive Pre-Refit Trials (PRT) of all machinery/ systems during the Draw-down phase in respect of ships and submarines undergoing major refits, NRs and above. Further, following processes are carried out for seamless transition from maintenance phase to an operational phase as a sea worthy and combat ready platform:-

• Conduct of integrated and comprehensive trials by subordinate Trial and Acceptance units at various stages of the refit to establish the materiel readiness of platforms for the ensuing operational cycle.
• Conduct of Staff Sea Checks of ships/ submarines undergoing major refits.
• Materiel Assessment Post Refit Completion is undertaken by NATAA through materiel audit of each platform, with inputs from all Trial and Acceptance units, and bring out the final materiel readiness status.

For more details, contact

Delhi Office

The Director General
Naval Trials and Acceptance Authority
D-II Wing, Sena Bhawan
New Delhi 110011
India

Tele 011- 21411709

Mumbai Office

The Director General
(for Director)
Naval Trials and Acceptance Authority
c/o Fleet Mail Office
Mumbai 400001
India

Tele 022- 22752557