the goan I network
VASCO
Union Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik on Monday said that the Centre will provide all support to the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) so that it can complete all its ongoing defence-related projects on time.
Naik held a meeting with GSL Chairman and Managing Director Commodore (retd) BB Nagpal to review various projects, after the mine counter-measure vessels project to guard India’s critical sea lanes hit a dead-end.
He said the issues faced by the GSL pertaining to orders from the defence ministry would be addressed immediately.
“The ministry will give all required support to the shipyard to complete the projects on time. We will also ensure that their order book is full,” Naik told reporters after the meeting.
The Goa Shipyard has required skilled manpower and a track record of completing its projects before time, he said.
Besides orders from the Indian defence forces, the ministry will also try to get assignments (orders) from navies of Sri Lanka and Russia for this public sector undertaking here, the minister said.
“The Goa Shipyard does not face any major challenges but there are some small issues which would be sorted out by the Union government,” he said.
The Goa Shipyard earlier called off negotiations with a South Korean Company over a Rs 32,000 crore minesweepers or mine counter-measure vessels project, following differences over a host of issues, including terms and conditions for technology transfer, according to sources.
According to the original understanding, the Goa Shipyard and the Kangam Corporation were to build 12 minesweepers in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and the deliveries were to be completed within nine years of the start of the project.
However, both sides struggled to finalise various key aspects of the project.
During his visit to GSL, Naik reviewed the projects being executed by GSL as well as its future plans, including the Missile Frigate Project and MCMV Project.
Naik laid the keel for the fifth Coast Guard OPV, under construction at GSL in the presence of Cmde B B Nagpal, CMD GSL and other senior officials of GSL, Indian Coast Guard and Navy.
Naik was given detailed presentation by Cmde B B Nagpal, NM, IN (Retd), CMD GSL on progress of ongoing 5 CGOPV Project, upcoming infrastructure as well as GSL’s efforts towards Indigenization, AI etc.
Naik was conducted around the shipyard and was taken to the upcoming Infrastructure sites under advanced phase of completion, which will provide GSL indigenous capability to build weapon intensive high tech Ships for Defence and for Exports.
Naik took interest in ongoing construction of ships, ongoing modernization, employees’ welfare schemes, implementation of Govt policies etc and urged GSL to continue the good work of delivering ships on time and efforts in export market.
