Titagarh Wagons starts building ships for Navy

Titagarh Wagons Limited, a flagship company of the Titagarh Group, started the construction of two 1,000 T Fuel Barges for Indian Navy and two Coastal Research Vessels for National Institute of Ocean Technology at their Titagarh Shipyard.

The company is planning to develop a shipbuilding factory at Kulpi in South 24 Parganas. Jagdish Prasad Chowdhary, the founder and executive chairman, Titagarh Wagons Limited said: "We are thinking ahead in this business as this is a beginning. We are taking land at Kulpi. Apart from manufacturing wagons in Titagarh, we'll also start manufacturing ships here. But only the lower body of the ship will be made here including steel fabrication and engine settings. The upper portion of the ship including mast will be made at Kulpi."

Chowdhary was talking to Millennium Post after the steel cutting ceremony at Titagarh Wagons shipbuilding division on Tuesday where the company officially commenced manufacturing of ships. Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, secretary, Ministry of Earth Science, Commodore Suprobho K De, Naval officer-in-charge of West Bengal, Satheesh C Shenoi, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology were among the other guests present during the ceremony.

"The fuel tankers for India Navy are being specially designed to enable INS Vikramaditya, which is Indian Navy's flagship aircraft carrier to refuel. By entrusting the construction of these four highly complex and technologically advanced vessels with us, the Indian Navy and National Institute of Ocean Technology have reposed great faith and trust in Titagarh Group's capabilities and dedication towards innovation and diversified portfolio. We are happy to be a significant part of Central government's Make in India campaign," said Chowdhary.

"Due to the height of Howrah Bridge which is a limiting factor for passing big ships, we will build the lower bodies of the ships at the Titagarh factory and will complete the ship at Kulpi," Chowdhary added.

The founder and executive chairman also informed that the company is in the process of acquiring 50 acre land at Kulpi. These four ships are the first tenders won by Titagarh Wagons post the company's venture into ship building business vertical in the beginning of this year. In February, the company reported at BSE and NSE that it has signed the contract from National Institute of Ocean technology under the Ministry of Earth Science.