BY SUDESH BHOSLE | NT NETWORK
VASCO: The maritime sector is an important sector the world over. The protection of seas has assumed a lot of attention in India post 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. Shipbuilding has become a closely watched area where central authorities are looking at with a lot of interest.

One among these ship building company is based in the port town of Vasco and has proved to be one of the most efficient and well-organised shipping company that has been meeting the requirements of the defence sector.
The Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), has build many of the vessels in service of the nation and has delivered ships to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Marine police in Goa and Maharashtra, ahead of its schedule time. The Goa Shipyard Ltd in recent times has received orders from foreign nations to build vessels only goes to prove further how far the company has progressed.
The GSL is not only committed to the development of the nation but also plays a major role in building society through its corporate social responsibility goals. GSL has been awarded the best performing shipyard award at the hands of the defence minister, Mr A K Antony. The award has raised the confidence of the GSL employees.
GSL has been growing at a faster pace and with its growing capability, GSL is moving towards modernisation plans at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crores. The modernisation project will be completed in four phases wherein phase- 1 and
phase- 2 will be done at a cost of Rs 400 crores and is under an advanced stage of implementation and is expected to be completed later this year.
Rear Admiral (Retd) Vineet Bakhshi, VSM, chairperson and Managing Director, Goa Shipyard Ltd while speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ informed about the companies growing trend from a modest beginning to being awarded as the best performing shipyard in the country.
Q1- Growing from a modest beginning to being awarded as the best performing shipyard in the country, GSL today stands as a success story of the changing face of Indian Defence Shipyards. How was the journey from a modest barge repairer to a sophisticated shipbuilder?
Vineet Bakhshi: GSL was originally established by the Portuguese in 1957, as a small barge repair facility, under the name ‘Estalerios Navais De Goa’. Following the liberation of Goa in 1961, the yard was leased to Mazagon Dock Ltd till 1967. Thereafter, it was incorporated as Goa Shipyard Limited, with its own board of directors. The government of India accorded it the status of schedule ‘B’ in 1997. The government of India conferred the status of mini Ratna, Category-I in March 2007. Over the years, GSL has upgraded in value chain, and has built a reputation as being one of the most sophisticated ship builders in the country. The shipyard has progressed from a barge building unit to a yard capable of building complex warships. The growth has been a consequence of a long term investment in upgrading technology and investing in people. The progress has been driven by the design department which has evolved and developed a range of vessels. Today GSL is the only shipyard in India which has a capability to design and build ships to customer’s requirements. Our customers, principally, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard have consistently reposed their faith in our abilities which has given us the impetus to constantly innovate and progress.
Q2- What do you attribute to its success?
Vineet Bakhshi -Some of the key strengths of GSL are its in–house design capability, skilled workforce and ERP-IT System. In fact, our in house expertise in design not only gives us an edge in the domestic market but also makes us attractive to global customers. We have also inducted the latest technologies and productive tools to improve productivity. GSL was the first shipbuilder in India to implement the latest design software such as Tribon and Primavera and incorporate it into an ERP system.
GSL today is fully computerised and its offices are virtually paperless. Further improvements have been made by concentrating on core competencies and outsourcing non-core areas like material handling, and low skilled fabrication processes.
Q3- What are the ranges of vessels that have designed and constructed by GSL?
Vineet Bakhshi - GSL has developed five variants of Patrol Vessels ranging from 50 meters to 105 meters with speed ranging from 25 knots to 35 knots. GSL is also developing designs for the ships of 75 meter and 115 meter lengths for future requirements of customers, even though we have none at present. This is our effort at Research and Development to constantly develop new products.
GSL has thus far built 187 ships including offshore patrol vessels, missile craft, survey vessels, a sail training ship, fast patrol vessels, extra fast attack craft, offshore supply vessels and 77 glass reinforced plastic fast interceptor boats and around 97 vessels have been repaired for the nation till date. Recently, GSL has commissioned the 90m. Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘ICGS Vishwast’ which is the first of a new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), indigenously designed and built by the shipyard. The 105 meters NOPVs for the Indian Navy, which are under construction in the yard, are based on GSL in–house design realised after an intensive R&D activity.
Q4- Is GSL eyeing to foray into global market considering huge demand for quality patrol vessels in international defence markets?
Vineet Bakhshi - With our proven capabilities for design and construction of the range of patrol vessels we are currently looking for global market. We have the wherewithal to export. GSL is making serious efforts to secure an export order from the Middle East. In addition we are also looking to export our products to Africa, South East Asia and East Asia. GSL is also making strenuous efforts for exporting its products, specially the in-house designed range of patrol vessels by participating in various exhibitions, seminars and by giving presentations on shipbuilding ability of the yard and interacting with dignitaries of various countries involved in decision making for future acquisition plans.
GSL has an excellent portfolio of vessels designed in-house as well as those built under collaboration which range from 9M to 105M.
Q6- GSL has embarked upon a planned modernization programme to meet the growing future defence needs of the country. In what way this is going to augment your shipbuilding capabilities?
Vineet Bakhshi - GSL’s modernization plan includes creation of new land building berths with transfer bays, fully serviced jetties, and state of the art ship, lift and transfer system, installation of new cranes and material handling equipment and augmentation of various yard services. Apart from this a dedicated GRP ship construction facility is also being set up. The modernisation plan once fully implemented will enhance the present capacity three fold and will also provide for building of high technology GRP vessels.
The yard modernization at an approximate cost of approximately Rs 800 crores is being Once fully implemented it is expected to enhance the present shipbuilding capacity of the shipyard by nearly three times. GSL is also looking for additional land for its activities to supplement its shipbuilding capability which will lead to increased revenue for the state as well as enhanced employment for people of Goa.
Q7- Could you please tell us about the various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts undertaken by the GSL?
Vineet Bakhshi - The initiatives taken by the company in this regards have been aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of the people of Goa. Enhanced business activity of GSL will result in to enhanced economic development of the state and will also create more employment avenues for the local population. The company has taken many steps as part of its CSR activity to improve the society. CSR discharged included looking after community health and hygiene, educational aids and educational support infrastructures, needs of orphanage and old aged homes, provision of civic amenities, medical care etc.