Speedboats are all Greek to Indian shipbuilders

The Centre’s post-26/11 escalation of the fight against terrorism has suffered a major setback with its plan to acquire 194 high-speed interceptor boats to strengthen coastal security hitting a roadblock.

The problem is that the two public sector undertakings (PSUs) tasked with the boats’ manufacture do not have the requisite technology.

The government has now turned to a Greek manufacturer for the supply along with technology transfer. But while the initial plan was to deploy all the boats by April, in all likelihood it will take three years to commission the entire fleet.

According to the government’s memorandum of understanding with the Greek company, a home ministry source said, the first deliveries include eight boats and the technology transfer — both already honoured. The source also maintained the April deadline would be met.

The plan to strengthen coastal security and acquire interceptor boats was formulated in 2005, but was in limbo till 26/11, when terrorists took the marine route to enter Mumbai. 

 The decision to approach the Greek company was a last-moment one after chief ministers of nine coastal states, including Gujarat’s Narendra Modi, approached the Centre seeking permission to import the boats.

At present, four each of the eight imported boats are with the two PSUs for replication as per the technology transfer terms. A home ministry team recently visited the firms to ensure production begins at the earliest.

The firms would deliver 24 boats by April-end, the ministry source said. The lot would also include the imported boats. The source said the second lot, comprising 60 boats, would be deployed by October and the remaining by October next year. Of the 194 boats, 110 would be of 12-ton capacity and the rest 5-ton.