The Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam has been tasked with building various vessels for the Navy, and efforts are on to improve its technical capability and transfer ordered from other public sectors. All these measures, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, are being taken ensure the HSL’s revival and expansion.
The Minister said this in a written reply to question posed by MP Mohd. Ali Khan.
In the last couple of years, the HSL has been awarded various Navy projects — the construction of five fleet support ships, two Landing platform docks and two special operations vessels — on nomination basis by the Defence Ministry, Mr. Parrikar added.
The HSL, which is in the negative financially, is looking for greater order flow to earn revenue. “Placing orders on HSL to ensure break even order of Rs. 5,000 crore,” the Minister noted.
The HSL, which was earlier with the Shipping Ministry, was taken over by the Defence Ministry in 2010 to exclusively cater to the Navy’s increasing orders, and take some of the burden off other shipyards that are unable to meet deadlines.
Detailing the steps being taken to increase the HSL’s present capacity, Mr. Parrikar said: “Strategic partnership is being conceived to help modernise the yard, enhance its technology and equipment, and improve its capacity to produce specific technology intensive naval vessels.”
Last year, the HSL signed a MoU with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) of South Korea to build support vessels and possibly conventional submarines, if selected. Plans are on for a long-term tie-up with HHI to build vessels for the global market.
Mr. Parrikar also stated that the HSL is being encouraged to take commercial orders, and noted that the Minister is considering giving the shipyard a grant of aid to help with restoration work following the damage caused by cyclone Hudhud in October 2014.
