Indian Shipbuilding Industry : News & Updates

GRSE and Naval Group of France sign MoU to Strengthen cooperation in the field of Surface Ships


In a revolutionary step towards transition from “ake in India” to “Make from India”, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Naval Group France, a leader in European Naval Defence Industry to collaborate in the field of surface ship that caters to fulfil the requirement of India and International Naval forces.

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With this MoU, both the entities will collaborate and engage to offer high-end surface ships based on sea proven Gowind design developed for export market. Having built over 100 warships for Indian and foreign naval forces, GRSE will work closely with French and Indian industries.

The MoU also seeks to leverage the capabilities of both firms for meeting the growing requirements of the shipbuilding industry and offer a robust world class product utilising the State-of-the-art capabilities of both the organisations. This blend of modern technology, innovation and management of resources by Indian and French naval industrial leaders will be a real value proposition for international navies.

Highlighting the importance of collaboration Shri V K Saxena, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), GRSE said, “Our association with Naval Group of France aims to set a new bench mark in capitalizing export market in the Indo Pacific region. The partnership will set a new ground for surface shipbuilding using design and technology assistance from Naval Group. This will not only bring mutual benefit for both the nations but also enable GRSE to deliver surface ships to Friendly Foreign Countries in line with our Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR.
 
With this MoU, both the entities will collaborate and engage to offer high-end surface ships based on sea proven Gowind design developed for export market.
Only for the export market ? I thought the Gowind would be a good fit for the 6 NGMVs & 7 NGCs requirement. Of course the weapons & sensors have to be modified as per the Navy's needs.

NGMVs is out of the question now. CSL has won that tender. Whether CSL will come up with their own design or they will collaborate with a foreign OEM remains to be seen.

Tender for the NGCs on the other hand are yet to be put out. GRSE has built the Kamorta class corvettes & it is certain that they would participate in the NGC tender. I thought that the GRSE will offer a variant of the Kamorta class for the NGC tender. There are logistical benefits to that.

It would be great if GRSE could learn modular construction methods from the Naval Group. The bane of our shipbuilding industry is the slow speed of production due to continued use of telescopic construction..
 
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Only for the export market ? I thought the Gowind would be a good fit for the 6 NGMVs & 7 NGCs requirement. Of course the weapons & sensors have to be modified as per the Navy's needs.

NGMVs is out of the question now. CSL has won that tender. Whether CSL will come up with their own design or they will collaborate with a foreign OEM remains to be seen.

Tender for the NGCs on the other hand are yet to be put out. GRSE has built the Kamorta class corvettes & it is certain that they would participate in the NGC tender. I thought that the GRSE will offer a variant of the Kamorta class for the NGC tender. There are logistical benefits to that.

It would be great if GRSE could learn modular construction methods from the Naval Group. The bane of our shipbuilding industry is the slow speed of production due to continued use of telescopic construction..

Since it's completely a foreign design, IN is unlikely to go for it.

The French are simply looking at making use of our cheap labour, plus our diplomatic advantage within the ASEAN and Africa. It's a good deal for us.
 
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GRSE to Revamp Dry Docks at Khidderpore: Signs Concession Agreement with SMPK

PSU NEWS
Posted Date: 07-10-21


The Agreement aims to play a vital role in abetting the strategic growth plans for both the companies in addition to the revenue generation from the ship repair and refit of Defence and Commercial segments, predominantly in the Eastern Region.
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Kolkata: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a Mini Ratna Category 1 Defence PSU and a leading warship building company of India, today signed the Concession Agreement with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), to undertake the development & utilisation of the 3 existing Dry Docks of SMP at Khidderpore, Kolkata. The project envisages upgrading, operating and managing the infrastructural facilities at these docks towards their effective utilization.

The Concession Agreement was signed in the august presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and AYUSH, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyay, Additional Secretary, MoPSW and Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd.),Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Shri Vinit Kumar, IRSEE, Chairman, SMPK & senior dignitaries of SMPK & GRSE, between Capt Amit Kapoor, Director (Marine Department), SMPK and Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Director (Personnel), GRSE.

As a part of the investment promotional activity of Maritime India, the Agreement aims to play a vital role in abetting the strategic growth plans for both the companies in addition to the revenue generation from the ship repair and refit of Defence and Commercial segments, predominantly in the Eastern Region.

This collaboration will also contribute to the future strategy of GRSE to take on additional shipbuilding activities including repair & refit of ships, which will aid in the feasibility for execution & expansion in and around Kolkata. Under the agreement, both entities look forward to develop a dynamic partnership and understanding to explore new business prospects, skill development and facility improvement, which in turn will aid in employment generation in Kolkata, as a part of Maritime growth and Nation Building exercise.

GRSE to Revamp Dry Docks at Khidderpore: Signs Concession Agreement with SMPK
 
CSL's upcoming dry dock (left) compared to the current dry dock that built the IAC-01 (right):
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The scales for the images were kept the same. Pic from Feb 2021.

The specs of the dry dock as reported in the media:
The new dry dock would be a ‘stepped’ dock with a length of 310m (the existing dry docks have a length of 270m), width of 75m at the wider part and width of 60m at the narrower part and depth of 13m with a draught of up to 9.5m.

It will be equipped with one 600-ton capacity gantry crane, two LLTT cranes each with a capacity of 75 tons with an option to add another 600-ton gantry crane at a later stage. The dock floor is designed to take a load of 600 ton/m.

The stepped dock will enable longer vessels to fill the length of the dock and wider, shorter vessels such as jack-up rigs to be built or repaired at the wider part.

The new dry dock will help Cochin diversify its product portfolio to build large, complex and technology intensive vessels such as LNG vessels, jack up rigs, drill ships, dredgers, a second indigenous aircraft carrier of much larger capacity than the one it is building for the Indian Navy, high end research vessels and repair of offshore platforms and larger vessels.

The new dry dock can accommodate aircraft carriers of 70,000 tons docking displacement and tankers and merchant vessels of 55,000 tons docking displacement.

Source: Cochin Shipyard embarks on biggest expansion with Rs 1,799-cr dry dock

It was supposed to be completed by May 2021. As with everything else this too has been delayed. Now the completion will happen in FY 2022-23 according to CSL's latest year book. Besides the new dry dock there is also an International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) being built at CSL:
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CSL is also doing pretty good in the civilian shipbuilding market. In July 2020 CSL had signed a contract for the construction and supply of 2 autonomous electric ferries for ASKO Maritime AS of Norway, with an option to build 2 more identical vessels.

You might be interested in this @vargr @Draughr etc. Whichever account you are using these days.
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This would be the world's first fully automatic electric vessel. The 67m long vessels will be powered by 1846 kWh capacity battery.

In November 2020 the steel cutting ceremony of the two ships were held.
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Then after 8-9 months in August 2021 the keels of both the ships were laid:
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Finally in November 2021 the launching ceremony was held. Both the ships were floated out of the dry dock. The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India Sarbananda Sonowal was present at the launching ceremony:
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Now the two ships are parked along the port with some other commercial vessels. Out fitting work has started. That might take 6-8 months to finish. I wonder if the propulsion motors & batteries are already installed. The propulsion unit are probably from some European company. If those are in place then I expect the ships to be ready by August-September 2022.

The deal was signed in July 2020 & the ships might be handed over in 2 years in the middle of a pandemic. Not a bad effort from CSL. They might just get the optional deal for 2 additional ships.

@Ashwin @_Anonymous_ @randomradio @Sathya @Ankit Kumar @Chain Smoker et al.
 
First Water Metro ferry handed over to KMRL

The Hindu Bureau
KOCHI, DECEMBER 31, 2021 13:32 IST
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The Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Four other Water Metro ferries are expected to be launched in the coming months

The first of the 23 fully air-conditioned, battery-powered electric ferries of the ₹747 cr Kochi Water Metro project, was handed over by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) here on Friday morning.

The 50-seater ferry was christened Muziris — named after what was once a thriving BC-era port — and is said to have been located at Pattanam village located 25 kms from Kochi city.

Madhumita Behera, wife of KMRL's MD Loknath Behera, was the chief guest at the vessel's handing over function. Among those present at included Mr. Behera, the CMD of CSL Madhu S. Nair, GM of Water Metro Shaji Janardhanan, Addl. GM Sajan P. John, directors of KMRL – K.R. Kumar and D.K. Sinha, directors of CSL - Bijoy Bhaskar and V.J. Jose and GM of CSL, Shivakumar.

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CMD of CSL Madhu S.Nair, MD of KMRL Loknath Behera and Madhumita Behera, wife of Loknath Behera, on board the first Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Four other Water Metro ferries are expected to be launched in the coming months. They will join the first vessel in conducting trial runs, mainly in the Vyttila-Kakkanad corridor, following which their commercial operation is expected latest from April. Each ferry is priced over ₹7.30 cr.

The 23 ferries would be complimented by another 55 smaller ferries — each having seating capacity of 25 — in the coming years, as part of the Water Metro project.

This would be the first time in the world that a centrally-controlled integrated water transport system comprising a large fleet, would be battery-powered. The ferries use lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries — which are considered the latest and safest in battery technology, and are capable of fast charging. They can be charged in 10 to 15 minutes’ time, while passengers are alighting/boarding. The ferries would have generator back up, which will take over their operation automatically, in the event of any failure of the battery system, the KMRL said.

Faster travel

Floating jetties will be made available at the 38 ferry terminals, making the ferries disabled and elderly friendly. The energy-efficient hull is designed for 10-knots speed (18 kmph), which is considerably faster than conventional ferries in operation in Kerala.

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The interior of the Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

The ferries having wide windows that provide an exotic view of the backwaters and the banks, for passengers and tourists who traverse 76 route kms. The interiors are designed much like in Kochi Metro, in the same colour scheme. The ferries are designed to create very less waves over the narrow channels even at high speed and would provide commuters a silent mode of transport. An automatic boat location system will continuously monitor their position from the Operating Control Centre (OCC) at Vytilla Mobility Hub.

The Kochi Water Metro would thus be a climate-friendly integrated water transport initiative to improve waterway connectivity, with a total of 78 ferries linking 38 terminals located over 76 route kilometers. The ferry jetties are in different stages of completion.

First Water Metro ferry handed over to KMRL
 
First Water Metro ferry handed over to KMRL

The Hindu Bureau
KOCHI, DECEMBER 31, 2021 13:32 IST
View attachment 22335
The Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Four other Water Metro ferries are expected to be launched in the coming months

The first of the 23 fully air-conditioned, battery-powered electric ferries of the ₹747 cr Kochi Water Metro project, was handed over by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) here on Friday morning.

The 50-seater ferry was christened Muziris — named after what was once a thriving BC-era port — and is said to have been located at Pattanam village located 25 kms from Kochi city.

Madhumita Behera, wife of KMRL's MD Loknath Behera, was the chief guest at the vessel's handing over function. Among those present at included Mr. Behera, the CMD of CSL Madhu S. Nair, GM of Water Metro Shaji Janardhanan, Addl. GM Sajan P. John, directors of KMRL – K.R. Kumar and D.K. Sinha, directors of CSL - Bijoy Bhaskar and V.J. Jose and GM of CSL, Shivakumar.

View attachment 22334
CMD of CSL Madhu S.Nair, MD of KMRL Loknath Behera and Madhumita Behera, wife of Loknath Behera, on board the first Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

Four other Water Metro ferries are expected to be launched in the coming months. They will join the first vessel in conducting trial runs, mainly in the Vyttila-Kakkanad corridor, following which their commercial operation is expected latest from April. Each ferry is priced over ₹7.30 cr.

The 23 ferries would be complimented by another 55 smaller ferries — each having seating capacity of 25 — in the coming years, as part of the Water Metro project.

This would be the first time in the world that a centrally-controlled integrated water transport system comprising a large fleet, would be battery-powered. The ferries use lithium titanate oxide (LTO) batteries — which are considered the latest and safest in battery technology, and are capable of fast charging. They can be charged in 10 to 15 minutes’ time, while passengers are alighting/boarding. The ferries would have generator back up, which will take over their operation automatically, in the event of any failure of the battery system, the KMRL said.

Faster travel

Floating jetties will be made available at the 38 ferry terminals, making the ferries disabled and elderly friendly. The energy-efficient hull is designed for 10-knots speed (18 kmph), which is considerably faster than conventional ferries in operation in Kerala.

View attachment 22333
The interior of the Water Metro ferry that was handed over by CSL to KMRL on Friday. Photo: Special Arrangement

The ferries having wide windows that provide an exotic view of the backwaters and the banks, for passengers and tourists who traverse 76 route kms. The interiors are designed much like in Kochi Metro, in the same colour scheme. The ferries are designed to create very less waves over the narrow channels even at high speed and would provide commuters a silent mode of transport. An automatic boat location system will continuously monitor their position from the Operating Control Centre (OCC) at Vytilla Mobility Hub.

The Kochi Water Metro would thus be a climate-friendly integrated water transport initiative to improve waterway connectivity, with a total of 78 ferries linking 38 terminals located over 76 route kilometers. The ferry jetties are in different stages of completion.

First Water Metro ferry handed over to KMRL

A fleet of 78 of these boats have been ordered. 55 boats out of the 78 will have a capacity of 50 passengers, the rest 23 boats will be stretched to carry 100 passengers. Not a bad looking design :
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The ships are Aluminum made Catamaran design with 2 propeller shafts. They are powered by electric motors with a backup diesel engine for increasing speed & for emergencies. The boats will cruise at ~10 knots.
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The Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) battery is not our tech. It is being acquired from a Swedish company:

Batteries selected for world’s largest fleet of electric ferries

They are calling the Kochi Water Metro's fleet the world’s largest fleet of electric ferries. Cool. (y)

The 1st ship was launched by CSL in April 2021:
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And today the 1st boat was handed over to the Kochi Metro.
 
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Many nations have used Alco engines to power their vessels. BLW will have 16 cylinder 4 stroke Alco and 2 stroke EMD engines to offer.
 
Many nations have used Alco engines to power their vessels. BLW will have 16 cylinder 4 stroke Alco and 2 stroke EMD engines to offer.
If I recall some of their diesel engines could produce around 5000 hp. That will do for medium sized freight ships to be used on the Inland Waterways.

We also have KOEL manufactured SEMT Pielstick 12PA 6 STC6 diesel engines that produce around 7600 hp. MAN makes some similarly powerful engines in India. Then we have Kirloskar & Ashok Leyland engines for the lighter ships. Walchandnagar Industries were also getting into marine diesels, not sure if they have. Marine diesel engines are available in abundance across the entire power spectrum.

Wish we could say the same for marine gas turbines though.🥲
 
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Wish we could say the same for marine gas turbines though.🥲
What about the Kaveri ? There were some reports on how it was being adapted for Marine gas turbines with mixed results. One report suggested a good 5-6 yrs of sustained finance & endeavours before the project came to fruition. Wasn't something planned on the same lines for a Kaveri derived railway engine too ?

Btw - I may be mistaken but the general idea conveyed at least out here was that such conversions weren't a big deal & was easily achievable. Any idea why it's proving to be so cumbersome ?
 
What about the Kaveri ? There were some reports on how it was being adapted for Marine gas turbines with mixed results. One report suggested a good 5-6 yrs of sustained finance & endeavours before the project came to fruition. Wasn't something planned on the same lines for a Kaveri derived railway engine too ?

Btw - I may be mistaken but the general idea conveyed at least out here was that such conversions weren't a big deal & was easily achievable. Any idea why it's proving to be so cumbersome ?

About the marine engine: General News, Questions And Discussions - Indian Navy
post #263

About the railway engine: