Shipyards unable to meet Navy146;s needs

Even as Indian naval chief admiral Suresh Mehta reasserted the inadequacy of state-owned shipyards in catering to warship requirements...

Even as Indian naval chief admiral Suresh Mehta reasserted the inadequacy of state-owned shipyards in catering to warship requirements, figures put together by experts indicate how pressing the problem really is. If things continue as they are, Indian shipyards would be able to meet only a third of the requirements for naval warships by 2022.

In 2007 the navy reviewed its fleet requirement and estimated it needed 160 warships by 2022. This means building over 130 ships to replace ageing vessels. The navy assesses a minimum force of 140 warships and submarines to achieve deterrent capability The current strength is estimated to be 150. The coast guard, too, will have to add 60 vessels by 2022 to maintain force levels.

8220;If we set a target of a 140-ship navy and a 75-ship coast guard by 2022, we have to plan to build or acquire nearly 160 new platforms. Replacing ageing platforms vessels in the next 15 years would mean an induction rate of 6.75 ships for the navy and four for the coast guard, totalling 10.75 ships every year,8221; said rear admiral retd Ravi Vohra, director of the National Maritime Foundation.

Even when considering lower estimates, Vohra said India8217;s three Defence Public Sector Undertaking DPSU shipyards 8211; Mazgaon Docks Mumbai, Garden Ship Builders and Engineers Kolkata and Goa Shipyard 8211; fall short of requirement.

8220;The average annual warship-building requirement measured in Standard Ship Units or SSUs between 2007 and 2022 is approximately 107 SSUs. However, a capacity of only 39.25 SSUs is available at DPSU shipyards,8221; says Vohra. 8220;Even if capacity is augmented by 30 per cent through enhanced productivity, the navy would still fall short of 45 SSUs.8221;

With DPSU shipyards8217; order books oversaturated till 2015, experts contend the only way out is to rapidly enhance capacity at public and private ports. While a greenfield shipyard dedicated to building warships that could produce 1.5-2 ships a year is one of long-standing demands of naval planners, the role of the private sector in defence ship-building is also seen as vital.