Thaindian News

Panaji, Aug 24 (IANS) Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a public sector defence ministry operated shipyard, is actively looking at shipbuilding and marine maintenance markets in the Middle East, East Africa and West Africa, and South Asia.

The public sector undertaking was also looking at providing professional training to international clients in the field of niche marine engineering, GSL chairman-cum-managing director Rear Admiral (retd) Vineet Bakshi told reporters here Wednesday.

“Sailors from the Royal Navy of Oman are being currently trained by personnel from GSL in CPP (Controllable Pitch Propellers) Stern gear system,” he said.

Training in marine and shipbuilding engineering advancements was slowly evolving as a revenue generating facet for the GSL and a “new line of business for them”, he added.

“We already have a contract with the Sultanate of Oman. We are looking at other markets in the Middle East, West and East Africa and South Asia,” he said.

Bakshi said that apart from manufacturing offshore patrol vessels, interceptor boats, stealth vessels and other marine craft for the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and the coastal police, GSL had also made other forays, which included building a boat for a tourism venture in Gujarat.

“The company also manufactured and supplied a five-tonne boat with additional features to Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited, tourism division of the Gujarat government,” he said.

“A contract for construction and supply of five pontoons for the Indian Navy has been signed this year along with six advanced offshore patrol vessels (AOPV),” Bakshi said.