Indian shipyards open to technology collaborations: Expert

SINGAPORE: India's leading shipyards are open to more technological collaborations with foreign maritime companies to keep themselves abreast of the advanced technology required for making high-end products, an expert said here today.

"We will collaborate to gain from technology transfer with international shipyards but we are also in a good position to do projects for other countries," said Rakesh Anand, director of corporate planning at Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) at a defence exhibition.

"We are in South East Asia to showcase our expertise and ready to undertake project for any markets," he added.

Anand said there is big scope for MDL to undertake commercial vessel projects but the focus is defence and naval projects as the yard's track record shows and its commitment to national projects.

The shipyards have delivered a number of projects to countries in the region such as the delivery of CGS Barracuda to Mauritius in December 2014, he said.

Anand also underlined the importance of keeping updated with advanced technologies through interaction with international shipbuilders for making high-end products and keep abreast with global industry.

He, however, also pointed out that defence and naval projects were subject to approvals from the government as the shipyards operates under the Ministry of Defence.

MDL has delivered commercial projects such as multi- support vessels for international oil companies as well as hydrocarbon exploration rigs for the Indian oil and gas sectors in the past.

MDL together with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and Garden Reach Shipbuildings & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) are taking part in the International Maritime and Defence Exhibition ( IMDEX Asia).

"The successful completion of 'Barracuda Project' has evoked tremendous interest in the neighbouring countries and a number of countries are showing interest in building warships in India," said R C Nautiyal, Director at GRSE.

Nautiyal highlighted the challenge of building a world class fleet of Stealth Frigates under Project P-17A for the Indian Defence Sector.

MDL is building four Frigates and GRSE 3 Frigates. The first of these Frigates would be delivered in about five years.

The 7-vessel project at the two yards is in various stages of planning and implementation.

GSL director of operations, Shrihari Pai Raikar highlighted the massive upgrade and modernisation his shipyard was undertaking.

"With this modernised facility in place, the shipyard's vessel building and repair capacity will increase multi-fold," he said.

"GSL will be able to undertake construction of Mine Counter Measure Vessels, one of the most advanced vessels for India," Raikar said.

GSL's international projects include two vessels for Sri Lanka to be delivered from 2017 onwards and a training simulator facility in Myanmar to train seafarers in managing a damaged vessel back to shore.

GSL-built INS Kamotra and MDL-built INS Satpura were part of the Indian participation in the exhibition.