Mumbai: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) celebrated its 250th Foundation Day on May 14, 2024. To mark the day, a series of events were organized in Mumbai, presided over by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane. These included the inauguration of adjacent land acquired from Mumbai Port Authority (MPA); launch of a prototype of an indigenous midget submarine; commissioning of a Solar Electric Hybrid boat and Fuel Cell Electric Ferry; release of MDL’s Commemorative Coin; and a day-long technical seminar.

In his address, the Defence Secretary termed MDL as a precious jewel of India, which has immensely contributed towards the nation’s economy and security by building up capabilities for naval as well as commercial purposes. He commended MDL for being the country’s biggest shipyard, contributing through most of the assets of the Indian Navy, having a big export market, and collaborating with foreign players.

Giridhar Aramane asserted that India occupies a central role in the Indo-Pacific region and consistent efforts are being made to strengthen the shipbuilding capabilities of the country by involving and motivating the private sector to be a part of the country’s growth story. Underscoring the importance of achieving self-reliance in today’s times, he exhorted MDL to fully realize its true potential in warship building technology. He urged the shipyard to work with the private sector and build a consortium of shipbuilders to cater to domestic needs as well as the requirements of friendly nations.

The Defence Secretary highlighted the major role being played by the Indian Navy in providing security to the region and beyond, including its operations in the Arabian Sea. He stated that the geopolitical scenario is such that the Navy will continue to play a pivotal role, for which shipbuilders will have to contribute immensely. “India cannot depend on others for constant supply of anything. There is a need to develop indigenous capacity to produce the latest technologies through innovation. To defend our borders, we need to master top-class technologies,” he said.

MPA Land

The contiguous piece of land acquired from the MPA was inaugurated by the Defence Secretary. This would be developed for simultaneous construction and outfitting of new builds and repairs/refits of various types of vessels. The new infrastructure will give adequate bandwidth to the shipyard for simultaneous execution of various projects.

Midget Submarine

MDL has successfully completed the platform design and hull of the midget submarine named ‘Arowana,’ which was launched by Giridhar Aramane. The shipyard has been building submarines since 1984 with foreign design. It has also commenced the design and development of an indigenous conventional submarine. The midget submarine is being developed as a proof of concept. The team is parallelly working on the development of the design of a full-scale conventional submarine by 2028.

Solar Electric Hybrid Boat

The Defence Secretary also commissioned the Solar Electric Hybrid boat with a top speed of 11 knots, designed and co-developed with an indigenous technology partner. The running cost is almost one-tenth of a diesel boat and has a very low maintenance cost.

Fuel Cell Electric Ferry

A 24-passenger Fuel Cell Electric Ferry named ‘SUCHI,’ conceptualized by MDL and co-developed with an indigenous technology partner, was also commissioned. Its advanced technology has zero emissions and low acoustic signatures, leading to cleaner waterways and contributing to environmental conservation.

Technical Seminar & Commemorative Coin

Giridhar Aramane also inaugurated the Technical Seminar on ‘Emerging Technologies and the Future of Shipbuilding.’ To commemorate 250 years of MDL’s existence, he released a coin issued by RBI, crafted to honor the rich history and enriching legacy of the shipyard.

From a small dry dock in 1774 to its incorporation in 1934, and subsequently, its stewardship under the Government of India since 1960, the completion of 250 years of MDL is a milestone that marks a testament to resilience, growth, and enduring legacy. /BI