Defence official promises all support for HSL modernisation

Patrol vessel, Rani Durgavati, built for the Indian Coast Guard at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited, sliding from the slipway in Visakhapatnam on Saturday at a launch function. Photo: C. V. Subrahmanyam

Defence Production Secretary R.K. Singh on Saturday promised to extend support for modernisation and orders for Hindustan Shipyard Limited.

He was speaking at a function conducted to mark the launching of Inshore Patrol Vessel Rani Durgavati. This is the third in the series of five being built for Indian Coast Guard by HSL, which was taken over by the Ministry of Defence in February.

Shiela Singh, wife of Mr. Singh launched the vessel, 114th so far, from the slipways.

Rani Durgavati has a length of 51.15 metres with a breadth of 8.36 metres, depth of 4.55 metres with a loaded displacement of 275 tonnes and speed of 62.8 km per hour.

Responding to the request of HSL Chairman and Managing Director Commodore Naresh Kumar, Mr. Singh said they were willing to give orders to HSL from the Navy and the Coast Guards on a nomination basis.

Admitting that HSL was in great difficulty despite having huge potential and highly skilled workforce, he said the Ministry of Defence would release funds for the modernisation of HSL.

On the financial restructuring of HSL, he said the package was awaiting clearance from Ministry of Finance.

Call to staff

Mr. Singh said for getting orders on a nomination basis, HSL workers and management should maintain highest standards and stick to delivery schedule. Public sector shipyards, including HSL, must prove their worthiness to get orders in the face of stiff competition, he opined.

Cmde. Naresh Kumar said that the yard was on verge of completing orders on-hand and underlined the need for placing orders on nomination basis.

He said HSL was capable of building large warships, submarines and frigates.

He said they would take one-year mobilisation period to procure raw material like steel and said capacity idling should be avoided by placing orders.

He said the yard had finest infrastructure and highly skilled workforce to face competition. Coast Guard IG A. Rajasekhar said HSL could make use of business opportunities offered by the Coast Guard and said that they at present had 80 ships and crafts and in the process of making it a formidable force by doubling its fleet.