Chennai: Larsen and Toubro (L&T) on Tuesday launched India’s first indigenously built floating dry dock at its Kattupalli shipyard. Named as FDN –2, the 8,000-tonne carrier would enhance the technical repair infrastructure of the Navy for ships in port Blair.
L&T, which had won the contract in May 2015 to design and build the FDN-2 at a cost of Rs 468 crore, is all set to deliver it within 8 weeks. Having used the digital technology, the engineering and designing team created 3D models of the ship for accuracy.
Speaking on the occasion, vice Admiral DM Deshpande commended L&T for its efforts in the design and construction of FDN-2. He brought out that launching of the indigenously built floating dock bears testimony to the capabilities available in India for realising the “Make in India” vision.
The 185-metre long and 40 meters wide FDN-2 is the first naval shipbuilding project for L&T designed for docking Indian Navy ships and submarines of up to 8,000 tonnes of displacement. FDN-2 is an in-house designed dock with the state-of-the-art technologies.
Executive vice president and whole-time director (designate) of defence J. D. Patil said, “We had used 3D technology to avoid flaws in fitting. FDN-2 would make a difference in strategic importance, as repairs of the ships can be done right at the location, without bringing them back to the location.”
The floating dock was lowered into the waters of the Bay of Bengal by Anjali Deshpande, wife of Vice Admiral D.M. Deshpande, Controller, Warship Production and Acquisition, the Indian Navy.
