Kolkata, August 12: The Indian Navy will require more advanced warships to maintain freedom of navigation at sea and ensure a continuous flow of energy supplies and essential goods within the country. Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, the Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, made these remarks during the launch of the Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) ‘Shruti’ at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited on Tuesday.
Vice Admiral Sadhu stated, “This event celebrates our shipyards’ capability to build advanced warships. Once completed, 85 percent of the NGOPV will be made in India.” He highlighted that the Navy has ordered 44 platforms, all of which are being constructed in Indian shipyards, clearly demonstrating the government’s push for self-reliance.
He noted, “Given the regional conditions, such as the US-Iran conflict affecting critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz, the Navy plays a crucial role in securing our maritime routes and ensuring the supply of energy and other essential goods to India.”
The Vice Admiral emphasized that multi-role warships like the NGOPV ‘Shruti’ will be vital for safeguarding the country’s maritime borders while also fulfilling various other roles. He urged everyone in the shipbuilding industry to ensure the construction of high-quality platforms for the Navy and other clients.
“India is a true maritime nation with a vast coastline. The government aims to establish India as a global shipbuilding hub. By 2035, it aspires for Indian shipyards to account for 5 percent of the world’s shipbuilding. The goal is for at least 50 percent of India’s commercial fleet to be built domestically by that time,” he added.
He further mentioned that the government has allocated ₹70,000 crores for this initiative. The target is for India to rank fifth among shipbuilding nations by 2047. Vice Admiral Sadhu concluded, “This is achievable, but it will require hard work from all our personnel and stakeholders to meet these goals and produce high-quality vessels.” He communicated in Hindi to reach a broader audience, including employees and supervisors from other shipyards.
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