Self reliance and indigenisation (Atmanirbharta and Swadeshikaran) in the Maritime sector
For more than 50 years, our Indian Naval designers have been designing and our indigenous shipyards have been building ships for the Indian Navy, resulting in our transition from a ‘ Buyer’s Navy to a Builder’s Navy.
Today it is a matter of great pride that nearly 50 ships and submarines under construction for the Indian Navy are been constructed in Indian shipyards , both public and private.
The recent announcements made by the Finance Minister on initiatives in the Defence Production sector could ensure that we progressively increase the indigenous content so that future warships and submarines are 100% Made in India. This shipbuilding capability of India needs to be extended to the commercial shipbuilding sector as well, and the potential of all our 28 shipyards optimally exploited. Currently, while over 90% of India’s overseas trade by volume, transits by sea only 7% is carried in Indian hulls.
India’s share of the world’s commercial shipbuilding is less than 1%.
To revive the shipbuilding sector, we need to draw up a national shipbuilding plan, for construction of ships ranging from container vessels, LNG carriers and oil tankers to vessels for coastal trade and deep sea fishing trawlers, in indigenous shipyards. India’s shipbuilding, ship repairs and ship recycling potential needs to be exploited to build ships of the future in accordance with the energy efficiency design index and propelled on environment friendly fuel.
The sustainable development of India’s Maritime sector, which has a vital relation to the nation’s economic growth should be firmly anchored on self reliance and indigenisation (Atmanirbharta and Swadeshikaran) to accomplish the vision of Honourable Prime Minister’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’
– Admiral R K Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd) . Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Indian Navy