With INS Beas, Navy begins converting steam-powered warships to diesel

The move from the older generation steam to diesel propulsion is being carried out along with several other equipment and system upgrades. The complete midlife upgrade programme is expected to take around two years.

Top officials told The Indian Express that once successful, there are plans to convert the remaining ships of the Brahmaputra class — INS Brahmaputra and INS Betwa — from steam to diesel propulsion.

Besides these ships, the INS Vikramaditya and the INS Jalashwa are the only other platforms of the Navy that are powered by steam.

Officials said the move will significantly enhance the life and capability of the warships. INS Beas for instance, which would have otherwise been de-inducted in around 10 to 12 years, is expected to remain in active service for more than 20 years once it is converted to diesel propulsion.

An official explained that several issues crop up in ships with steam propulsion, more so as they age. “There are issues such as steam leaks and high temperatures in the boiler and engine rooms of these ships which contribute to uncomfortable working conditions for the crew,” the official said.

Moreover, it is learnt, the steam propulsion system has several auxiliary equipment and systems associated with it, making it more cumbersome and maintenance-intensive. Ships powered by diesel, on the other hand, are easier to maintain.

Over the centuries, propulsion systems have evolved from wind to steam, gas turbines, diesel, nuclear and electricity. The Indian Navy is among the few in the world to have ships and submarines powered by steam, diesel, nuclear as well as electric.

A majority of the Indian Navy’s 150 ships and submarines are powered by diesel engines or gas turbines, or a combination of both. India has one indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant.

INS Anvesh — a technology demonstration vessel developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for R&D purposes — is powered by electricity.

As per officials, INS Beas will likely be powered by a Caterpillar marine diesel engine with 6-MW power.

For the subsequent ships, a ‘request for proposal’ for bids will be floated in the next few months.

It is likely that with the indigenous building of the marine diesel engine under the Make-I category — learnt to have been taken up by Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) — the two other ships of the Brahmaputra class would be the first ones with indigenous diesel engines.

Projects under Make-I involve government funding of indigenous defence projects released to the vendor by the Defence Ministry in a phased manner based on the progress of the scheme.

Sources also said that upon successful development of this diesel engine, orders for 30 diesel engines would be placed and next-generation corvettes, among others, would be fitted with these.