GSL gets defence ministry’s nod to build 12 minesweepers
PANAJI: The
defence ministry has given its approval to Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) to build 12 mine counter-measure vessels or minesweepers at a cost of 32,000 crore, which will not only boost the Indian Navy's maritime capability, but will also give impetus to the state economy, sources said.
On Saturday, the defence acquisition council (DAC) met in New Delhi, where the decision was taken by defence minister
Manohar Parrikar to clear the Indian Navy's long pending demand for minesweepers in order to replace its ageing fleet of 12 Pondicherry and Karwar class minesweepers, which are expected to be phased out by 2020, defence sources said.
The Navy requires 24 minesweepers to clear mines laid by enemy warships and aircraft to blockade harbours during war. Minesweepers are specialized warships capable of neutralizing sea mines.
The vessel locates mines by high-definition sonar and then a remote-controlled underwater vehicle is utilized to detonate the mine. Only six to seven countries have the ability to build minesweepers and GSL would be the first in India to do so.
Defence sources said that a global tender would soon be launched for transfer of technology. Various other components would be sourced domestically.
In 2008, the defence ministry floated a tender for eight minesweepers which was bagged by Kanganam Corporation. The deal was stalled on allegations that the South Korean firm had engaged middlemen.
In November, Parrikar, while acknowledging the technical capabilities of GSL, said that he would clear the minesweepers deal. "What we are trying to do is give the orders to GSL and ask GSL to go in to the technical collaboration," Parrikar had said.
The minesweepers are usually deployed with local naval defense and search-and-rescue missions.
The Indian Navy's ageing fleet of 200-foot Pondicherry class minesweepers were built for the Indian navy by the Soviet Union during 1978-88 and are modified versions of the Russian Natya class minesweeper. The Karwar class ships, which came much later, are upgraded warships with the addition of surface-to-air missiles.
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