CHENNAI: USNS Matthew Perry is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to complete maintenance works at L&T shipyard after USNS Charles Drew completed voyage repair in August last year.

The U.S. Navy’s Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship, USNS Matthew Perry, has successfully completed maintenance and repair work at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli near Chennai. The maintenance and repair work began on March 11 and was completed on March 27.

USNS Matthew Perry is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to complete maintenance works at L&T shipyard after USNS Charles Drew completed voyage repair in August last year.

A press release said that the larger scope of work on Matthew Perry reflects the U.S. Navy’s intention to work towards routinely accomplishing a broader scope of vessel repairs and demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Navy and Department of Defence to utilise repair facilities in India after U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed intent at the U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington, D.C. in April last year.

The U.S. Consul General in Chennai, Judith Ravin, said, “The United States is a proud Indo-Pacific nation, and our vital interests are inextricably tied to the region. India is an important partner of the U.S. 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.”

The USNS Matthew Perry was named after Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), who served during the War of 1812 and the Mexican American War and was sent to suppress piracy and slave trade in the West Indies.