State-run steel maker SAIL Thursday said it has got approval from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to manufacture special shipbuilding grade plates.
The plates will be used for making diving support vessels (DSV) used by the India Navy, the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) said in a statement.
"Company's Bhilai Steel Plant has got the necessary works approval certificate from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to manufacture special shipbuilding grade plates for making Diving Support Vessel (DSV) used by the India Navy.
"The plates will be supplied to Hindustan Shipyard Limited for making the vessels. Such vessels are used the Navy for search, rescue and repair of undersea submarines and other vessels/structures," SAIL said.
The certification requires stringent monitoring and review of the entire systems from steel-making to testing, it said.
"The works approval certificate granted to Bhilai Steel Plant is for manufacture and supply IRS grade plates of normal strength (A, B & D) with plate thickness ranging from 8 mm to 45 mm," SAIL said.
SAIL is country's largest steel producer with an annual capacity of over 21 million tonnes per annum.