‘Full Speed Ahead’
Of the 43 ships on order for the Indian Navy, 41 are being built indigenously and AoN exists for construction of another 44 ships and submarines to be built in India”. Photo above is of INS Kolkata, a Kolkata-class (Project 15A) stealth guided missile destroyer.
GRSE delivers 106th warship Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a leading warship building and Mini-Ratna Category 1 Company under administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, climaxed the year 2020 with delivery of the last of eight LCU project and start production of the first of eight ASWSWC ship. GRSE has delivered IN LCU L-58 (Yard 2099), eighth and last in the series of Landing Craft Utility Ships to the Indian Navy. This is the 106th warship built and delivered by GRSE so far, since its inception in 1960 and represents the highest number of warships delivered by any Indian Shipyard till date.
This LCU was third ship delivered by GRSE in 2020, no mean feat considering operational constraints imposed by the global pandemic of COVID -19. The Shipyard has delivered 14 ships in the last 42 months which means an average of 3 months. Comprehensive design of the LCU Mark IV has been in-house by GRSE as per requirements specified by the Indian Navy and is of unique design with no precedence worldwide. The 62.8 m long and 11 m wide LCU has a displacement of 830 tonnes and can achieve a speed of 15 knots. The LCU can accommodate 216 personnel and is equipped with two indigenous CRN 91 guns for artillery fi re support during landing operations. The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced systems such as the Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). LCU L-58 delivered by GRSE to the Indian Navy will be part of the Andaman & Nicobar Command. The eight LCUs built by GRSE will provide backbone of the Maritime Security Cover and HADR activity in the A&N Archipelago. GRSE is also currently executing three major projects for the Indian Navy pertaining to construction of 3 stealth frigates, 4 survey vessel (large) ships and 8 anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft (ASWSWC), the last two projects won on competitive bidding. The double ceremony also marked the ‘Start Production’ Day for the first of eight ASWSWCs which is the first ‘milestone’ in shipbuilding and signifies commencement of vessel construction after the design engineering phase. The compact and complex stealth craft are designed by GRSE, the platforms equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors such as hull-mounted sonar, towed sonar, torpedo launchers and rocket launcher to interdict and destroy subsurface targets in coastal waters. The craft will be employed for ‘Search & Rescue’ and ‘Low Intensity Maritime Operations’, being propelled by water-jets capable of high speeds.
GSL specialised patrol boats for Indian Army
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) have signed a contract with Indian Army for supply of 12 high performance specialised patrol craft on 31 December 2020. Although GSL have earlier built over 170 GRP boats for the Ministry of Home Affairs and other customers, these craft for the Indian Army are of completely new design and fitted with specialised equipment to meet the requirement of Indian Army, reportedly for operations on the Pang Gong Lake in Ladakh.
GSL launches 5th OPV Project
The 5th and the last vessel of the indigenous Project for 5 Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Coast Guard was launched on 14 December 2020 at Goa Shipyard Limited, the vessel named as ICGS Saksham. Entirely designed in-house by GSL, these OPVs will form part of the Coast Guard Fleet for protection of territorial waters in the EEZ. Fitted with most modern and technologically advanced machinery and computerised controls systems, these will be the most advanced Patrol Vessels in service with the Indian Coast Guard. The 2400-tonne vessels will be equipped with Quick Response Boats for rescue and anti-piracy, gunnery simulators and many other advanced features. The most efficient hull form is designed by GSL “to provide for fuel efficiency, crew comfort and excellent sea keeping qualities.”
Commissioning and start of production during 2020
INS Kavaratti, the fourth and last ship of Project 28, this was commissioned on 22 October 2020 at Visakhapatnam. IN LCU L57 (Yard 2098): This was commissioned at Port Blair on 15 May 2020, the seventh of eight LCU MK IV ships being constructed by GRSE, Kolkata. Yard 3023: Keel laying ceremony of Yard 3023 (Second ship of Project 17A at GRSE) was held on 24 January 2020 at GRSE, Kolkata. Yard 12653: Keel laying ceremony of Yard 12653 (3rd ship of Project 17A at MDL) was held on 10 September 2020 at MDL, Mumbai. Yard 12654: Production of Yard 12654 (4thship of Project 17A) commenced on 22 January 2020 at MDL, Mumbai. Yard 3024: Production of Yard 3024 (3rdship of Project 17A at GRSE) commenced on 22 August 2020 at GRSE, Kolkata.
Commissioning of OPV ICGS ‘Sujeet’
Indian Coast Guard Ship Sujeet, second in the series of 5 Off-Shore Patrol Vessels, was commissioned at Goa on 15 December 2020. The OPV built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment, sensor and machinery. The 105 m. ship displaces approx 2350 tons and is propelled by two 9100 KW diesel engines designed to attain a maximum speed of 26 knots, with an endurance of 6000 nm. The ship is designed to carry twin-engined helicopter and four high speed boats plus one inflatable boat for swift boarding and search & rescue operations. The ship can also be equipped with pollution response equipment and undertake oil spill pollution response at sea.
Mr. Raj Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Defence Production), being briefed on state-of-the-art technology to meet maritime challenges in safeguarding national interests and to facilitate maritime trade & commerce
Launch of GRSE-built stealth frigate INS ‘Himgiri’
On 14 December 2020, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, launched the first of three stealth frigates, INS Himgiri as part of Project 17A. Construction of the three frigates is the largest ever order awarded to the shipyard by the Ministry of Defence, with a value of over Rs.19,293 crore. The P17A ships are advanced state-of-the- art guided missile frigates, 149 m long, with a displacement of approximately 6670 tonnes and having an advanced CODOG Propulsion system, enabling speed of over 28 knots. These ships are equipped with a powerful weapon & sensor package for neutralising threats in all three dimesions, air, surface & sub-surface. Fincantieri, Italy is the Knowhow Provider for Technology Upgrade and Capability Enhancement in this project. Project 17A is unique wherein, based on the basic design prepared by the Directorate of Naval Design, construction is concurrently being done at two locations, MDL and GRSE.
Courtesy: MoD