VASCO: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and MTU, Germany (Rolls-Royce Holdings) have agreed to cooperate in local manufacturing of technologically-advanced MTU Series 8000 engines in India.
Under the agreement, which was signed at the Defexpo-18, the companies will manufacture the 16-cylinder and 20-cylinder MTU Series 8000 engines at GSL’s new facility in Goa. The MTU brand is a worldwide leader in large diesel and gas engines and complete propulsion systems.
The agreement includes transfer of MTU technology related to local manufacture of engine components, engine assembly, testing, painting and major overhauls.
RAdm (Retd) Shekhar Mital, NM, chairman and managing director of GSL said, “Since main diesel engines constitute the heart of a ship and are among the major high value imported equipment items onboard ships, the collaboration will aid to significantly increase the indigenous content onboard ships constructed in India. It will also provide a strategic edge to Indian Defence Sector as know-how and infrastructure for such niche technology will now be available with a PSU Shipyard, which can be gainfully utilised by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.”
“Under the agreement we will be catering for marine propulsion requirements within the country in the range of 7 to 10 MW. The new facility being created by GSL will also undertake all major overhauls of these engines. Plans are in place to progressively increase the indigenous content and with a strong manufacturing base in India, we are confident of achieving significant indigenous content in these engines. Besides creating self-reliance for India, it will usher in new opportunities for the local industry for indigenisation. I’m sure that with favourable Government policies and thrust on indigenization, this collaboration will be highly successful,” Mital added
Praveen Mohan, director and CEO, MTU India said, “The agreement with GSL to manufacture MTU’s most-advanced Series 8000 engines in India is a significant milestone and further reinforces our commitment to ‘Make in India.’ We have been working with the Indian defence sector for several decades and our well-proven MTU engines propel and power many vessels of both the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy. We are committed to collaborating with our stakeholders to help support the country’s vision of indigenisation and self-reliance.”
