Keel laying ceremony of MDL’s 3rd stealth frigate of Project 17A

New Delhi: VAdm SR Sarma (COM & CWP&A) of the Indian Navy and VL Kantha Rao (IAS) Additional Secretary (Defence Production) laid the keel of the third ship (Yard- 12653) of the prestigious P17A class stealth frigates, being developed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), on Thursday. The keel-laying ceremony was conducted through an e- platform in the presence of VAdm RB Pandit, Chief of Staff, HQWNC and VAdm Narayan Prasad (IN Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director of MDL.

The function was attended by RAdm K Harish, DGND; Cmde TV Thomas (IN Retd.), Director (CP&P), MDL; RAdm AK Saxena (IN Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding), MDL; Cdr Jasbir Singh (IN Retd.), Director (S&HE), MDL; Sanjeev Singhal, Director (Finance); MDL, Mahesh Chandra, CVO, MDL along-with senior executives from MDL and Navy through an e-ceremony including the Warship Overseeing Team.

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Project 17A

Seven frigates under P17A series will be constructed of which four are being constructed in MDL and three in GRSE with MDL as the lead yard. The P17A class frigates are being built using indigenously developed steel and fitted with weapons and sensors along with the Integrated Platform Management System. These ships are having stealth features. Construction of P17A ships differs in the very concept of warship building by way of adoption of the modern technology 'Integrated Construction (IC)' where the blocks are pre-outfitted before joining to reduce the build period of warships. When commissioned the platforms will enhance the combat capability of the Indian Naval fleet.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)

Defence PSU Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) is a shipyard situated Mazagaon, Mumbai. MDL manufactures warships and submarines for the Indian Navy and offshore platforms and associated support vessels for offshore oil drilling. The defence PSU also builds tankers, cargo bulk carriers, passenger ships and ferries. The shipyards of MDL are over 200 years old. Established in the 18th century, the ownership of these yards passed through entities including the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company and the British-India Steam Navigation Company. Eventually, 'Mazagon Dock Limited' was registered as a public company in 1934. Later, the shipyard was nationalised in 1960 and is now a Public Sector Undertaking functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence.

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