Sixteen months after Reliance Infrastructure subsidiary Reliance Defence and Engineering Ltd (RDEL) took control of Pipavav Defence and Offshore Engineering Company, two naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPVs) were launched at RDEL’s shipyard today in Pipavav, Gujarat.

The two NOPVs, named ‘Shachi’ and ‘Shruti’, are the first warships to be launched by a private sector shipyard in India, and were launched by Preeti Luthra, wife of Vice-Admiral Girish Luthra, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command.

The two patrol boats are part of five ships under the P-21 project being constructed for the Indian Navy by RDEL. While work on the remaining three ships is progressing steadily, an official said finishing touches would be given to the two ships before they are commissioned. The ₹2,500-crore order for the NOPVs was inherited by RDEL as part of its acquisition. The P-21 project was initially bagged by Pipavav Defence in 2011, with the first NOPV slated to be delivered by early 2015. However, financial and technical constraints dogged the shipyard, delaying the project. Ever since RDEL took over the shipyard in January 2016, the firm accelerated operations, as well as bid for and bagged other orders. It is also engaged in the construction of a training ship as well as 14 Fast Petrol Vessels (FPVs) for the Coast Guard at a cost of ₹920 crore.

First in private sector

Hosting one of the largest dry docks, RDEL is the first private sector company to obtain the licence and contract to build NOPVs. The modern warship has a length of 105 metres with a displacement of 1500 tonnes. It would be propelled by two diesel engines which can deliver speeds up to 25 knots and has an endurance of about 6,000 nautical miles, the company said.

RDEL has the only modular shipbuilding facility in India with a capacity to build fully fabricated and outfitted blocks. The fabrication facility spread over 2.1 million sq ft has an annual capacity of 144,000 tonnes.

Late last month, RDEL delivered a 73 500 DWT ice-class Panamax bulk carrier ‘Golden Opal’, its ninth vessel, to an international customer. The nine vessels are the largest dry bulk carriers of its class ever built by an Indian shipyard.

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