Pipavav Defence is now Reliance Defence and Engineering

NEW DELHI: Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd has been rechristened as Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd ( RDEL) from today.

"RDEL today has received a certificate of change of name from the office of the Registrar of Companies, Ahmedabad, certifying the change of name of Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company Ltd to Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd with effect from today i.e. March 3, 2016," the company said in a statement.

Last year, the Anil Ambani group firm had announced plans to acquire a controlling stake in Pipavav Defence for up to Rs 2,082 crore.

RDEL is the first private sector company in India to obtain the licence and contract to build warships.

The facility houses the only modular shipbuilding facility with a capacity to build fully fabricated and outfitted blocks, it said.

"The fabrication facility is spread over 2.1 million square feet. The shipyard has a pre-erection berth of 980 meters length and 40 meters width, and 2 Goliath cranes with combined lifting capacity of 1,200 tonnes, besides outfitting berth length of 780 meters," it said.