Launching Ceremony at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited

MUMBAI: Karanj, the third Scorpene class submarine being constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited for the Indian Navy, was launched yesterday, on 31 January 2018, by Mrs Reena Lanba. Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff was the chief guest on the occasion. Shri Arvind Sawant, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, VAdm Girish Luthra, FOC-in-C, WNC and VAdm D M Deshpande, CWP&A were present during the launching ceremony. This historic event reaffirms the giant strides taken by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) in the ongoing ‘Make In India’ programme, which is being actively implemented by the Department of Defence Production (MoD).

 

The submarine was then towed to Mumbai Port Trust, for separation from the pontoon. Karanj will now undergo rigorous trials and tests, both in harbour and at sea before it is delivered. 

 

The contract for the construction and Transfer-of-Technology for six Scorpene submarines in series, has M/s Naval Group (formerly DCNS) of France as ‘Collaborator’ and are being built by MDL. 

 

Cmde Rakesh Anand, Chairman and Managing Director, MDL said on the occasion that 2017 marked the commissioning of Kalvari, launching of Karanj marks the start of an eventful 2018. Launch of Karanj is a historic occasion, as it marks a major milestone for MDL since previously only two SSK class submarines Shalki and Shankul were built here at MDL. This milestone has been achieved through the hard work and perseverance of all executives and operatives of the Submarine Yard. He said the skill sets of MDL personnel have yielded excellent quality results. The accomplishment of this milestone would initiate commencement of sea trials which would eventually lead to commissioning of the boat into the Indian Navy by end 2018. The induction of Karanj would mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Indian Navy’s submarine capabilities. 

 

The state-of- the-art technology utilized for construction of the Scorpene class submarines has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape and the ability to launch a crippling attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons. The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst underwater or on surface. The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention given to various signatures. These stealth features give it an  invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.

  

A sophisticated and state of the art Shore Integration Facility has been developed at MDL for integration and simulation of various equipments of the Scorpene submarine combat system for which there was no facility available in the country.

 

Sub section fabrication of the pressure hull was honed down to an art in MDL. The fabrication was broken up into multiple activities and detailed time-motion studies carried out to arrive at precise time required in quantum of half days to complete an activity. Close monitoring, proactive resolution of problems and concerted efforts to keep the assembly line moving resulted in MDL completing critical sub section fabrication of all six submarines, eleven months before the PERT date. Further the time taken to complete the fabrication of the 16 sub sections of a submarine came down from 39 months in Boat 1 to 20 months in Boat 2.  This time frame of 20 months has been accepted by the collaborators, M/s NG, as higher than their standards.

 

Further, the number of defects experienced during the fabrication of sub sections of the boats fell from 165 on Boat 1 to 14 on Boat 6.

 

Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e Anti-Surface warfare, Anti-Submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc. The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, with means provided to ensure interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force. It is a potent platform, marking a generational shift in submarine operations. 

 

Last year, on 14 December 2017, INS Kalvari, the first Scorpene class submarine was commissioned into the Indian Navy, by Hon’ble Prime Minister. Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine was launched in January 2017, and is currently undergoing the rigorous phase of sea trials and is also scheduled to be delivered shortly.  MDL has more than lived up to its reputation as a premier shipbuilding yard under the Department of Defence Production, which has greatly facilitated all aspects of this prestigious and critical defence project.  

 

Leveraging the experience and the transfer-of-technology of the Scorpene project, with enhanced and upgraded infrastructure, MDL, is ready for undertaking construction of the next generation submarines.