Team News Riveting
Kolkata, September 14
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), marked a key milestone in its shipbuilding journey with the launch of the third indigenously built Diving Support Craft (DSC) for the Indian Navy.
The vessel is part of a series of five DSCs being built by TRSL under the Make in India initiative of the Ministry of Defence.
The launch ceremony was graced by Mrs. Kangana Berry, wife of Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, AVSM, NM, VSM, Commander-in-Chief, who performed the traditional naming and launch of the vessel.
The craft was side launched into the Hooghly River at 16:10 PM. Diving Support Crafts are catamaran-type vessels designed and built with advanced equipment sourced from indigenous manufacturers. They are equipped to support the Indian Navy’s Command Clearance Diving Teams (CCDTs) in critical operations such as underwater repair, maintenance, and salvage of ships inside and around harbours.
Speaking on the occasion, Umesh Chowdhary, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, TRSL,
said, “The launch of the third DSC highlights Titagarh’s growing capabilities in naval shipbuilding and defence manufacturing, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner to the Indian Navy. These state-of-the-art crafts are vital for enhancing the Navy’s underwater operational capabilities, and we are honoured to play our part in building them indigenously. ”
The diving support crafts will also serve as advanced training platforms for the Navy’s diving cadre, enhancing operational readiness. With the successful launch of the third DSC, TRSL’s Shipbuilding and Maritime Systems (SMS) Division continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver complex, high-precision vessels for the armed forces. As was recently announced, the board of directors of TRSL recently approved the creation of a new entity to which the SMS business will be transferred, in order to optimise the growth of the business, while TRSL continues to focus on its core rail sector.
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) shipbuilding division brings decades of engineering excellence to the maritime sector, having successfully delivered more than 35 advanced vessels, including Coastal Research Vessels for the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and strategic projects such as ICGS Kamla Devi (FPV) and the inter-government cooperation project MV Ma Lisha (Cargo RoPax) for Guyana, both in cooperation with GRSE. One of these Coastal Research Vessels was notably showcased at the 12th Presidential Fleet Review, an exceptional honour for a non-defence ship highlighting TRSL’s proud legacy in maritime innovation. Through these achievements, TRSL has reinforced its reputation as a trusted partner in India’s shipbuilding ecosystem and has consistently contributed to advancing national shipbuilding policies and self-reliance, aligning with initiatives such as the National Shipbuilding Mission, the Maritime Development Fund, and the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy.
Further, TRSL SMS has recently acquired a jetty and adjoining land for expansion of its Falta shipyard from the Falta SEZ Authority on long term lease and has also received an LOI from GRSE for construction of 2 Coastal Research Vessels for Geological Survey of India.
Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, Shipbuilding & Maritime Systems (TRSL-SMS) is poised to mark a significant milestone in India’s maritime sector with the establishment of a state-of-the-art shipyard at Falta, south of Kolkata. To drive this growth, the Board of Directors has, in principle, approved the transfer of the shipbuilding and maritime systems business into a wholly owned subsidiary, Titagarh Naval Systems (subject to regulatory approvals), with an approximate order book of above 575 crores (including taxes). Designed with advanced automation and fully aligned with Industry 4.0 standards, the new facility builds on TRSL’s strong legacy of delivering more than 35 vessels—including coastal research ships for NIOT, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and GRSE—and is engineered to handle ships up to 180 meters in length, with an annual capacity of 12-16 vessels.
The establishment of Titagarh Naval Systems will enable TRSL to concentrate more sharply on its core railway systems business, while empowering the new company to pursue aggressive growth in shipbuilding by securing contracts for specialized vessels that contribute to the nation’s maritime excellence. Titagarh Naval Systems will also carry forward existing projects, including the Diving Support Craft project. To drive further expansion, Titagarh Naval Systems is actively exploring partnerships with strategic collaborators and investors to accelerate scaling and enhance its capabilities under various Government of India maritime initiatives.
