New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): The Indian Navy's first full-fledged Services Selection Board (SSB) was on Tuesday inaugurated by Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba at Diamond Harbour near Kolkata.

The SSB (Kolkata) is located at a place that was previously occupied by a Naval Coastal Battery, a Navy statement said.

This is the fifth SSB of the Indian Navy and will cater for selection of both permanent and short service commission (SSC) officers. The other boards are located in Bhopal, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Coimbatore.

Spread over 27 acres on the banks of Hooghly, the SSB (Kolkata) has the capacity to screen 5,000 officer-candidates annually.

The board can accommodate 160 candidates at a time and has separate facilities and accommodation for men and women candidates. Facilities available at the board include a GTO ground, testing hall, conference room, accommodation for staff and a medical inspection room.

These are not only custom-built to meet the stringent testing requirements, but also to cater to the comfort and convenience of candidates.

This SSB will boost the induction of officers, both men and women, into the Indian Navy. Its location will reduce the travel time and effort for candidates from northern and northeastern parts of the country, the statement added.