English
Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL): HSL is one of India’s oldest government-owned shipyards. Established in 1941, it was brought under the Government of India in 1952. In terms of capacity, it is the country’s second-largest shipyard after Cochin Shipyard.
The Indian Navy now sees Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) not just as a public sector enterprise engaged in shipbuilding, but as a long-term strategic partner. During his visit to HSL, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS), Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, indicated that in the coming years, the shipyard’s role would extend beyond constructing new warships to include lifecycle maintenance, upgrades, and modernization.
Vice Admiral Sobti visited the HSL facility in Visakhapatnam on July 6. During the visit, the newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral (Retd.) C. Raghuram, briefed him on the ongoing projects, infrastructure modernization, and the shipyard’s future readiness.
Following the inspection, Vice Admiral Sobti praised HSL’s recent transformation and achievements. He stated that while the Indian Navy and HSL have shared a relationship spanning decades, the time has come to elevate this partnership to a new level. According to him, the Navy expects HSL not only to build warships but also to play a leading role throughout their service life by undertaking maintenance, technical upgrades, and mid-life modernization.
Defense experts believe these remarks are particularly significant because the Indian Navy is set to expand its fleet rapidly over the coming years. Along with the induction of new warships, the need for upgrading and providing lifecycle support to vessels already in service is also increasing steadily. In this context, the responsibilities of government-owned shipyards such as HSL are expected to become far more important than before.
