Defence Secretary Inaugurates Celebrations Marking 250 Years of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) commemorated its remarkable 250-year journey, symbolising resilience, growth, and an enduring legacy since its humble beginnings as a small dry dock in 1774. To mark this significant milestone, MDL organised a series of events, including the inauguration of adjacent land acquired from the Mumbai Port Authority, the launch of a prototype of the indigenous midget submarine ‘Arowana’, and the commissioning of a Solar Electric Hybrid boat.
Giridhar Aramane, IAS, Defence Secretary, graced the occasion as the chief guest. He formally inaugurated the contiguous piece of land acquired from the Mumbai Port Authority, which will be developed to facilitate simultaneous construction and outfitting of new builds, repairs, and refits of various types of vessels. This new infrastructure will provide MDL with ample bandwidth for the simultaneous execution of multiple projects.
MDL, under the leadership of the Defence Secretary, successfully unveiled the prototype of the midget submarine ‘Arowana’, marking a significant leap in indigenous submarine design and development. Additionally, the Defence Secretary commissioned the Solar Electric Hybrid boat and the 24 pax Fuel Cell Electric Ferry named “SUCHI”, both designed and co-developed with indigenous technology partners.
Inaugurating the Technical Seminar on “Emerging Technologies and Future of Shipbuilding”, Aramane emphasised MDL’s invaluable contribution to India’s maritime capabilities and hailed it as a jewel in the crown of India. He lauded MDL for its substantial contributions to the Indian Navy’s assets and underscored its pivotal role in naval and commercial shipbuilding.
The Defence Secretary also unveiled a commemorative coin issued by the RBI, crafted to honour MDL’s rich history and enriching legacy. In his address, he congratulated MDL and emphasised its pivotal role in bolstering India’s maritime prowess, both in defence and commercial domains.