Defence Ministry Inks Rs 2,310 Crore Deal With Mazagon Dock For Training Ship

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said that it had signed a Rs. 2,310 crore deal with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to build a training ship for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

“This is the first dedicated training platform with integral helicopter capabilities that will provide basic sea training to 70 Coast Guard and other international under-trainee officers to prepare these budding mariners on the multi-dimensional maritime aspects of Coast Guard life,” a press release from the ministry stated.

Modern and high-tech surveillance and monitoring systems will be installed on the training ship. This is to help the ICG cadets learn about the challenges they will face at sea and to protect properties along the coast and offshore.

Without going into specifics, the minister said that most of the systems and equipment would come from local manufacturers, such as small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs).

“The project is meant to create a lot of jobs over the next three years.” In addition to meeting the goals of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” the deal would also improve the country’s shipbuilding skills and maritime economies, the news release said.

On September 25, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane went to Mumbai to see Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. There, he asked Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) to play a bigger part. Aramane said that India had to become completely independent in making its own weapons. He told all of the DPSUs that they should work together to reach this national goal.

He specifically stressed how important it was to include more indigenous people in the building of warships as a key step toward independence and the growth of the country.

Share prices in Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders finished Tuesday’s trading session down 0.50%, while the benchmark indices ended the day up 0.40%.