The current ship building capability of defence shipyards meets the requirements of the Indian Navy. Presently, all major warships and submarines under construction are being built at the Indian Shipyards, these include both DPSUs as well as Private Shipyards.

 

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers (GRSE) are engaged in building complex weapon intensive vessels like destroyers, stealth frigates, corvettes etc. Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) and Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) have capability to build various categories of vessels like Patrol Vessels, Tankers, Landing Platform Docks, Survey Vessels, Tugs, Barges etc.  MDL is also constructing submarines for Indian Navy.

A comprehensive assessment of the modernization needs of the Defence Shipyards have been made based on the requirement of the ongoing and future Projects.  The modernization programme is intended to increase productivity and reduce build periods through upgradation of existing infrastructure, enhancement of capacity and incorporation of ‘state of the art’ ship building technology.  Accordingly, the DPSU Shipyards i.e. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. (MDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) and Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. (HSL) have embarked on a comprehensive modernization programme.  Details are as under:

 

MDL:

MDL has undertaken the ‘Mazdock Modernisation Programme’ at a cost of Rs.966.88 Crore (out of which Rs.846.20 Crore was provided by Government of India and the balance Rs.120.68 Crore was from MDL’s internal accruals).  In the last two years Government of India has provided Rs.157.32 Crore to MDL for modernization activities.  The modernization included creation of Module Workshop, 300 Ton Goliath Crane, New Wet Basin and Cradle Assembly Shop.  MDL, with the completion of the modernization programme is aiming for a paradigm shift in Warship construction i.e. construction from unit assembly to block assembly enabling ‘Integrated Modular Construction’.  This would substantially reduce the construction / building periods.

Post modernization, the capacity of outfitting has increased from hitherto 3 Warships to 5 Warships and from 3 submarines to 6 submarines.  The submarine building capacity is being further enhanced by constructing additional submarine related infrastructure.

 

GRSE:

The modernization Plan which was focused on enabling modular construction has been completed at a financial outlay of Rs.605.85 Crore (out of which Rs.331.27 Crore was provided by Government of India and the balance Rs.274.58 Crore was from GRSE’s internal accruals, nil funds allotted in the last two years).  GRSE is now capable of constructing concurrently multiple large modern ships.  GRSE modernization plan included creation of the following facilities:-

·         Modern hull shop, upgradation of TRIBON ship design software, augmenting capacity of inclined berth, shipbuilding shop etc.

·         Dry Dock of 10,000 Ton capacity, inclined berth OF 4500 Ton capacity, Pier Quay and associated works & systems.

·         Goliath Crane of 250 Ton capacity.

·         Module Hall, Paint Cell & Equipment.

 

GSL:

GSL has undertaken a planned modernization programme and is in the process of creating infrastructure for indigenous construction of MCMVs (Mine Counter Measure  Vessels)  for  Indian  Navy.  Infrastructure  modernization  plan  is  being implemented in four phases of which Phase-1 & 2 has been completed in March 2011.  Work for balance phases are in progress.  On completion of modernization plan, GSL will have the capacity to build high technology glass-fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) hull Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) indigenously with the help of foreign technology provider.

In addition, this will also substantially enhance the rate of production and shipbuilding capacity of the yard.  Government of India has sanctioned Rs.480 Crore for modernization of GSL (out of which Rs.100 Crore has been provided by Government of India in the last two years).

 

Post modernization:-

·         GSL will overcome the constraints in terms of launch weight restriction by installation of 6000 Ton shiplift & transfer system with associated civil structures (i.e. improvement from the existing 1500 Ton to 6000 Ton capacity).

·         There will be addition of construction berths for Offshore Patrol Vessels (from 1 to 3 for OPV size ships).

·         Augmentation of Jetty Berthing Space (from 4 wet berths to 10 wet berths).

·         Augmented material handling & crane capacity (addition of new workshop cranes from 5 Ton to 80 Ton capacity).

·         New Level Luffing outdoor cranes upto 60 Ton Lifting capacity, two new block transporters of 100 Ton capacity.

·         Increased repair capability with two berths for repairs of ships upto 6000 Ton and rationalization of layout and material flow for efficient modular construction methodology.

HSL:

Currently the Repair and Refurbishment of Machinery & Infrastructure (RRMI) to modernize and upgrade the shipyard is under progress.  The RRMI activities are being carried out progressively to meet the requirement for construction of future platforms.  Government of India in 2011 sanctioned and provided Rs.457.36 Crore to HSL for RRMI activities (nil funds allotted in the last two years).

 

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri KC Tyagi in Rajya Sabha today.

DM/NAMPI/RAJ