Inching closer towards finalising a deal with the Philippines Navy, defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has emerged as the lowest bidder for exporting two frigates to the Southeast Asian island country.
"We are the lowest price bidder for the order. Now the government is evaluating other aspects before placing the order. We are hopeful of a positive outcome but things are not final yet," Commodore Ratnakar Ghosh, Director (shipbuilding), GRSE, told PTI.
Few days ago, a team from the Philippines Navy visited the facilities of the Kolkata-based shipyard and expressed satisfaction at the infrastructure.
"If you look at the infrastructure nobody is better than us. We have been in negotiations with them for the last two years and now they are examining other bidders also," company chairman and managing director Rear Admiral (Retd) A K Verma said.
If GRSE bags the order, it will be India's second export order for delivering a warship and a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' campaign.
The shipyard already has the distinction of exporting India's first warship, an offshore patrol vessel, to Mauritius in December 2014.
Buoyed by the success, GRSE had participated in the bidding process for building two frigates for the Philippines.
As per the specifications laid down by the Philippines government, they want two light frigates of 109 meter length which can run at a speed of 25 knots.
Officials said these are for general purpose use in protecting their maritime boundaries.
GRSE already has the required expertise for making frigates as the Kolkata shipyard has bagged the order of making three advanced stealth frigates from the Indian Navy.
"In between we have the capacity to build these frigates for them," Verma said.
GRSE has also built INS Kamorta, first in its class of four anti-submarine warfare corvettes, which is the first warship ever built in the country with almost 90 per cent of indigenous content.
Ghosh said they are in touch with other nations like Vietnam and Bangladesh for building warships.
(Business Standard)
This report is doubtful, as the most recent rumor is that GRSE failed the post-qualification inspection. Apparently, the Philippine Navy has already sent a team to South Korea to evaluate the second lowest bidder Hyundai's offer.
BalasHapusThere are sources indicate that the ship that is offered is not the Kamorta class which is previously named but another class of ship...due to the fact that the cost of Kamorta is higher than the contract ..... Another is if it is the Kamorta class then surely they will cut corners or take out some the features....making it unreliable or a knock down version of Kamorta class
BalasHapuspinoy habbit...bidding...bidding...bidding...fail...this frigate bidding like never endless story
BalasHapusPinoy!!! Always buy the cheapest.... Unlike other's asean country especially singapore... They always buy the best weapon in the market like the frigates, lcs, mbt, submarines, fighter jet and if they can't get it.. The will built it them self. And for pinoy.... Everything us cheap or secondhand or donation from other's country. Hahahahaha😂
BalasHapus