Navy Deputy Chief Outlines Expanded Strategic Role For Hindustan Shipyard

The Indian Navy is seeking to redefine its relationship with Hindustan Shipyard Limited by expanding the defence public sector company's role beyond the construction and delivery of vessels. Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, said the Navy wants the Visakhapatnam-based shipyard to become a long-term strategic partner capable of supporting warships throughout their entire operational lives.

Vice Admiral Sobti outlined the vision during a visit to Hindustan Shipyard Limited on Monday, where Chairman and Managing Director Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram, retired, briefed him on recent projects and upgraded infrastructure. Addressing shipyard personnel, Sobti said the partnership should extend beyond vessel construction to include full life-cycle support, upgrades and mid-life modernisation programmes.

The proposed expansion would require Hindustan Shipyard Limited to combine technical expertise with the ability to manage long-term projects and partnerships. Its Mini Ratna Category-I status gives the company's board greater autonomy to approve capital expenditure, joint ventures and technology collaborations without requiring government approval for every decision. Such flexibility could support the shipyard as it takes on decades-long maintenance and modernisation responsibilities for naval platforms.

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Vice Admiral Sobti praised the transformation achieved by the shipyard and described it as a trusted partner of the Indian Navy. He said Hindustan Shipyard Limited was expected to become an increasingly important part of India's growing maritime sector. However, he also stressed that quality and timely delivery would remain essential, indicating that any expansion of the company's responsibilities would depend on its ability to consistently meet operational and project deadlines.

The Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff also highlighted the importance of skilled personnel, saying experience would be critical to building future capabilities. Established in 1941, Hindustan Shipyard Limited is India's second-largest shipyard after Cochin Shipyard and already carries out major refits of Kilo-class submarines. Its work has included extended refits of INS Sindhukirti, INS Vela and INS Vagli, as well as the retrofit of INS Sindhuvir before its transfer to Myanmar.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited is also working with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited to expand from submarine refits into construction and signed an agreement with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in February 2026 to jointly pursue a major national shipbuilding programme. The Navy's push for deeper partnerships with domestic shipyards reflects a wider effort to strengthen self-reliance by reducing dependence on original equipment manufacturers for long-term maintenance, upgrades and support.

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