After thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. concluded a Memorandum of Understanding in June this year for the local construction of submarines for the Indian Navy, the partners have now teamed up again for the overhaul and modernization of the Indian submarine INS SHANKUSH. INS SHANKUSH is the second submarine in a series of four HDW Class 209 Type 1500 boats that are all still in service today. The submarines were built and delivered for the Indian Navy in the 1980s as part of a German-Indian cooperation. After seeing service for decades, INS SHANKUSH is now due for a planned extension of its operational capability.
Over the next three years, INS SHANKUSH will be modernized in close partnership with the state-owned shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will be responsible for supplying material packages of selected systems, equipment and components as well as for on-site technical support and pressure hull inspection. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders will act as general contractor up till on-time delivery of the submarine. Drawing on many years of experience, knowledge and expertise, both companies have already cooperated in the implementation of major projects in India.
“We look forward to working again with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and continuing a tradition that goes back to more than four decades. This contract once again reaffirms our long-standing commitment to India and represents another cornerstone in maintaining the operational capabilities of the Indian submarine fleet,” emphasized Oliver Burkhard, CEO, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
The business relationship between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems started back in the 1980s when thyssenkrupp Marine Systems joined hands with the Indian Navy and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders for the construction of four diesel-electric submarines. The first two boats were built in Germany, whereas boats three and four were constructed at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders shipyard in India. With the Medium Refit Cum Life Certification (MRLC) of the first boat INS SHISHUMAR signed in 2018, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders had already extended the service life of one of the four Indian submarines for another ten years. The modernization of INS SHISHUMAR will be completed after sea trials this year. The signing of this contract for the second Indian submarine INS SHANKUSH has once again demonstrated the expertise and competence of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ Services business unit in the submarine field.
