Larsen & Toubro plans to rope in US-based design and equipment suppliers for its shipbuilding projects for the Navy and Coast Guard at its facility in Kattupalli, about 40 km north of Chennai.

For ship design, L&T is in talks with US-based Alion. It is also negotiating with equipment suppliers such as Raytheon, Harris Group, Pan Marine and Bluefin Robotics, said B Kannan, MD & CEO, L&T Shipbuilding. He was speaking at the Indo-US Partnership Conclave organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.

L&T Shipbuilding operates two modern shipyards — one on the east coast at Kattupalli and another on the west coast at Hazira, Gujarat. At both units, it builds warships, submarines, auxiliary vessels/crafts and specialised commercial ships. In addition, the Kattupalli unit undertakes repairs and refits of both defence and commercial ships.

Kannan said the company has started interactions with American firms for supply of equipment like sensors and elevators which would be integrated in ships.

He added that the company is gearing up to take up second phase of construction at Katupalli. The time frame would depend on getting orders from the Centre.

The company has an order book of close to ₹2,000 crore. It currently has an order to supply 54 interceptor boats for the Coast Guard. Of this, 20 have been delivered and the rest is expected to be supplied in a year, he told newspersons on the sidelines of the conference.

L&T is also building offshore patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. A floating deck is being developed for the Navy, and this will be stationed at Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Kannan said. The company is also designing a landing platform dock to carry multiple helicopters that will be helpful during rescue and emergency situations.

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