Jindal Saw plans ship-building hub in Gujarat

In a major diversification drive, Jindal Saw (JSL), part of the $10-billion OP Jindal Group in India plans to set up the country?s first shipbuilding and repair hub in Gujarat with an investment of over $2 billion. The hub will be a part of the proposed India Maritime Technology Park being developed by the company and would cater to the requirements of both domestic and overseas customers. It would also manufacture a variety of equipment for ships, shipyards, and ports and terminals in association with overseas partners.

This initiative would be undertaken by a newly set up company Jindal Shipyards that is part of infrastructure holding arm of JSL, Jindal Infrastructure Transportation and Fabrication (JITF). The first vessel from the facility is expected to roll out in the last quarter of 2010. The company has already roped in CSE Dastec, part of China?s largest ship building organisation for design and production process support. China?s leading shipyard design institute NRDI has provided the master plan for IMTP.

“We want to become a complete integrated logistics solution provider which not only offers services but also possesses assets enabling a better delivery. In this regard, a ship-building facility is being considered at our proposed IMTP near Dahej in Gujarat. The facility would be developed in three phases with the first phase involving an investment of about Rs 2,000 crore and creation of facilities to build 15 vessels of 15,000 dwt and 10 vessels of 5,000 dwt per annum. Panamax vessels of 85,000 dwt would be built upon completion of the third phase in seven years? time.