Rolls-Royce today said it has inked pact with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) to manufacture technologically-advanced MTU Series 8,000 engines, used in offshore patrol vessels, in India.
"Rolls-Royce and GSL, a premier defence shipbuilding yard in India under the Ministry of Defence, have agreed to cooperate in the local manufacturing of technologically-advanced MTU Series 8,000 engines in India.
"Under the agreement, which was signed today at India's leading defence trade show Defexpo, the companies will assemble the 16-cylinder and 20-cylinder MTU Series 8,000 engines at GSL's new facility in Goa," Rolls-Royce Power Systems said in a statement.
The MTU brand is a worldwide leader in large diesel and gas engines and complete propulsion systems and part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
The agreement includes transfer of MTU technology related to localising of engine components, engine assembly, testing, painting and major overhauls, the UK-based company said.
The MTU engines are the largest and most powerful MTU diesel engines with a power output of up to 10 MW, it said, adding that they are fitted onboard all Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) recently constructed or currently under-construction in India.
This includes eleven Coast Guard OPVs by GSL (six completed and five under construction), five Naval OPVs under construction at Reliance Defence Engineering and seven Coast Guard OPVs by L&T.
"Since main diesel engines constitute the heart of a ship and are among the major high value imported equipment items onboard ships, the collaboration will aid to significantly increase the indigenous content onboard ships constructed in India," GSL Chairman & MD Shekhar Mital said.
He said it will also provide a strategic edge to Indian defence sector as know-how and infrastructure for such niche technology will now be available with a PSU shipyard, which can be gainfully utilised by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
"Under the agreement, we will be catering for marine propulsion requirements within the country in the range of 7 to 10 MW. The new facility being created by GSL will also undertake all major overhauls of these engines," he said.
"The agreement with GSL to manufacture MTU's most-advanced Series 8000 engines in India is a significant milestone and further reinforces our commitment to 'Make in India.' We have been working with the Indian defence sector for several decades and our well-proven MTU engines propel and power many vessels of both the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy," MTU India Director & CEO Praveen Mohan said.
These are the top-selling propulsion engines in their power class for naval vessels. They are also proven in ferries and yachts and have altogether completed over one million operating hours, the statement said.
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