Rolls-Royce and Goa Shipyard Limited agree to manufacture MTU engines in India

CHENNAI: Rolls-Royce and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a defence shipbuilding yard under the Ministry of Defence, have agreed to cooperate in the local manufacturing of technologically-advanced MTU Series 8000 engines in India. Under the agreement signed on Thursday at the Defexpo, the companies will assemble 16-cylinder and 20-cylinder engines at GSL’s new facility in Goa.

The agreement includes transfer of MTU technology related to localising of engine components, engine assembly, testing, painting and major overhauls. MTU Series 8000 engines are fitted onboard all Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) recently constructed or currently under construction in India. This includes eleven Coast Guard OPVs by GSL (six completed and five under construction), five Naval OPVs under construction at Reliance Defence Engineering and seven Coast Guard OPVs by L&T.

RAdm (Retd) Shekhar Mital, NM, Chairman & Managing Director of GSL said: “In line with the thrust on indigenization and ‘Make in India’ initiative of the MoD, Government of India, GSL has been on the forefront for increasing the indigenous content onboard vessels constructed at GSL. Since main diesel engines constitute the heart of a ship and are among the major high value imported equipment items onboard ships, the collaboration will aid to significantly increase the indigenous content onboard ships constructed in India. It will also provide a strategic edge to Indian Defence Sector as know-how and infrastructure for such niche technology will now be available with a PSU Shipyard, which can be gainfully utilised by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard,” he said. He added that the agreement would cater to marine propulsion requirements within the country in the range of 7 to 10 MW. The new facility being created by GSL will also undertake all major overhauls of these engines, he said.


Praveen Mohan, Director & CEO, MTU India, said: “The agreement with GSL to manufacture MTU’s most-advanced Series 8000 engines in India is a significant milestone and further reinforces our commitment to ‘Make in India.’