Towards indigenisation: Keel laying ceremony at Karachi Shipyard

A large number of senior naval officers attended the ceremony.

KARACHI: The keel laying ceremony of a 32-ton Bollard Pull Tug was held at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works on Wednesday. The tug is being indigenously built for Pakistan Navy.

At the ceremony, defence secretary Lt General (retired) Asif Yasin Malik said that growth plans of the armed forces have always remained a top priority for the government to enable them to meet the contemporary challenges. Replacing old ships is one of such plans, he added.

Karachi Shipyard has become the focal point of their plans to become self-reliant and indigenise their fleet, he said, adding that this will not only ensure timely availability of required vessels but will also help consolidate the shipbuilding capability.



He said that only those who can meet the challenge of rapidly changing technology with quality and commitment can survive the fierce competition. He expressed his satisfaction on Karachi Shipyard’s performance and hoped that it would lead towards complete self-reliance in the field of shipbuilding.

Earlier, the managing director of Karachi Shipyard, Rear Admiral Hassan Nasir Shah, highlighted the features of the under construction tug. He informed the audience that the 34-metre long tug has a displacement of 481 tons and a maximum speed of 12 knots. The tug is propelled by two diesel engines and two Azimuth thrusters.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2013.