The Hindu : National : Modernise ship building industry, says Antony

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Modernise ship building industry, says Antony

Special Correspondent

“Ships and equipment we need should come from our own shipyards”

Mormugao: Stressing the need to expand and modernise indigenous ship building industry, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday said efforts should be made to reduce the cost of building ships within the country.

The Defence Minister was speaking after the commissioning of ICGS Sankalp, the fifth advanced offshore patrol vessel (AOPV) of the Indian Coast Guard here on Tuesday evening.

Goa Speaker Pratapsingh Rane; Vice Admiral R.F. Contractor, Director-General Indian Coast Guard; Rear Admiral (Retd.) A.K. Handa, Chairman and Managing Director, Goa Shipyard Ltd.; Commander Coast Guard Region (West), I.G. Rajendra Singh; DIG K.S. Sheoran were present.

Stating that the ship building scenario in the world was changing very rapidly, Mr. Antony said India needed a number of ships and also other equipment for its Navy and Coast Guard and emphasised that these should be made available by “our own shipyards.”

While expressing happiness that the Goa Shipyard had acquired the competence in building modern war ships, Mr. Antony, nevertheless, pointed out that the general record of Indian shipyards on delivery schedules and cost escalations was not satisfactory. “Indian shipyards have to further improve their designing facilities so that they can meet the requirements of the Navy and Coastguard very fast,” he said.

He also referred to the “shortage of equipment in emergency times adding to the problems of efficiency and timely delivery.”

Spurt in trade

Speaking about the growing responsibilities of the Indian Coast Guard, Mr. Antony said the economic growth had led to a spurt in maritime trade and commerce. The corresponding growth in maritime traffic required a durable and efficient framework of maritime safety, security, preserving of the maritime environment, disaster management and law enforcement, he said.

The Defence Minister said modern ships armed with the latest equipment, capable of providing quick, effective and credible response was the need of the hour. At the same time, he exhorted, “The Coast Guard has to become increasingly lean, yet a modern and efficient force with a human face.”

The Defence Minister exuded confidence that the new ship joining the Coast Guard fleet would contribute not only to fulfilling its mandate but also showcasing its capability during joint exercises in the preservation of the maritime environment in waters of neighbouring countries.

The AOPV has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Ltd., a south Goa-based Government of India Undertaking.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National