Panaji: In a development that will buoy Goa’s shipbuilding sector, the defence ministry has signed a contract with Chowgule & Company for six hovercraft for the Indian Coast Guard. The Rs 387.4 crore project marks the first instance of an Indian shipyard building hovercraft for the military.
The Indian Coast Guard currently operates a fleet of Griffon Hoverwork 8000TD-class hovercraft, which are designed for amphibious operations and coastal surveillance.
“These (new hovercraft) will be manufactured at our shipbuilding division at Loutolim in Goa,” said a spokesperson for Chowgule & Company. “The first hovercraft has to be delivered in 18 months, and the remaining vessels have to be delivered in a total of 33 months.”
The hovercraft, technically called Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs), are run by a crew of seven and can accommodate up to 16 passengers during amphibious operations or search and rescue efforts. “These amphibious vessels will be procured under the Buy (Indian) category,” the ministry said in a statement.
For the Goan shipyard, this is a high-status contract, particularly since the private firm managed to pip Goa Shipyard Limited, its competitor.
“These hovercraft are being built in India for the first time. All this while, they were being imported. This is a prestigious contract, and we are upbeat about this,” said the shipyard’s representative. “We have to ensure that at least 50% of the vessel is built using indigenous components.”
The contract will also create employment opportunities. “The work will begin in the next one and a half months. The first part will be the design phase. Construction will start by Jan,” said the company spokesperson.
The 21-metre-long hovercraft are not weapon-intensive systems.
The long-delayed project began in 2017, when the Indian Coast Guard floated a request for information, seeking inputs from shipyards. Subsequently, in 2019, the defence ministry issued a request for proposal (RFP) for 12 ACVs, including six for the Indian Army.
The RFP for the hovercraft had a feature to encourage the joint development of design by Indian shipyards in collaboration with a foreign design house or by sourcing the design for construction with substantial Indian content. The design specifications for the project stipulated that the hovercraft achieve a minimum speed of 45 knots.
The Coast Guard wants the hovercraft to be able to undertake maritime operations including high-speed patrols, interception and interdiction of suspicious vessels, and for logistical support for its ships.