GOA SHIPYARD TARGETS LATIN AMERICA FOR EXPORTS

After notching up successes in Mauritius and Myanmar, DPSU Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) will be focusing on bagging supply orders for patrol vessels and fast attack craft from Latin American countries, including Brazil and Chile. Top sources reveal that the company has set up a special team to focus on winning orders from this region to shore up its export strength. While GSL is standing by for interest in vessels across the board in its export catalogue, it hopes to bag quick orders for high speed FRP interceptor craft and the entire range of patrol vessels, which includes OPVs, advanced OPVs and fast patrol vessels. The company is also looking to establish partnerships in Brazil, Chile and other Latin American nations to push orders through quickly. Other vessels it is hoping to push through the export route in the region include fast attack craft (FAC), missile boats, hydrographic survey vessels, multipurpose motor boats, landing craft, training and support vessels and multi-purpose interceptor vessels for coast guard duties. GSL bagged a contract for one 50-metre fast patrol vessel from the Mauritius Coast Guard in May this year, with a provision to supply an additional vessel (likely to be signed shortly). GSL has also bagged a contract to supply 11 fast interceptor boats to the Mauritius Coast Guard. The company also bagged an order to supply a damage control simulator for the Myanmar Navy, with presentations made to the navies of several other countries, some of which have evinced interest. At present, GSL is vigorously pursuing supply orders for 110 FRP patrol vessels in the Gulf.