PANAJI: Much as Divar-based Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd provides the very first bunch of flat-bottomed ships into the Indian Army in southern Ladakh, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) is preparing to provide the very first high-speed specialised patrol, that is employed to patrol the Pangong Tso area.
GSL, that bagged the arrangement to create 12 specialised ships for the Indian Army, intends to provide the very first ship by June end or early July, together with all of those ships in advanced build phases.
“We are building three hulls at one time and we aspire to provide the very first ship by June-end or even early-July.
A group of Indian Army officials are at Goa in GSL oversee the first evaluations,” a source said.
Both Goan shipyards are contracted by the Army to provide Licensed, high-altitude patrol ships and flat-bottomed ships to allow it to counter incursions from China over the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The Army had left two contracts to its technical boats near the end of December 2020 following a desperate need has been felt to bolster India’s abilities to accommodate China’s thicker type-928B patrol ships.
GSL made a Rs 65 crore contract to develop and provide the 12 high performance crafts using innovative surveillance equipment and other gear.
The next deal was to get 17 flat-bottom fibreglass ships that Aquarius bagged.
The fibreglass flat bottom boats can take 20 soldiers at one time and may be utilised in shallow waters.
GSL is running trials on the very first high-profile ship and when the Army offers the go forward, optical sensors, weapon systems and additional technical surveillance equipment will be set up on the ship.
Together, both Goan shipyards will provide 29 specialized ships from December, which is utilized in eastern Ladakh.
Divar-based Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd has started delivering the very first bunch of 17 ships to the Army.
Approximately six to seven decades back, the Army obtained 17 QRT (quick-reaction) ships for patrolling the Pangong Tso, that will be situated at an elevation of 13,900 ft.
Throughout the stand-off using China in southern Ladakh in April-May this past calendar year, the Army believed that the desperate demand for ships to patrol the contested region and also to immediately deploy troops.