NSDRC redesigns strategy for foreign markets

New ship design orders from abroad to bolster turnover

In a bid to bolster its shrinking turnover, the city-based National Ship Design and Research Centre (NSDRC), the only ship design and research centre in the country, has once again set sights on major foreign ship design orders and offshore engineering works.

NSDRC was set up by the central government as a centre of excellence in the maritime and allied sector activities,

The centre clinched significant foreign orders in 2000-01 and 2001-02 registering a Rs 10 crore turnover. The turnover declined to Rs 6.5 crore in the following year. With no foreign ship design orders on hand, the turnover is not likely to cross Rs 8 crore in the current fiscal. This is the major reason for its concentration on securing the foreign ship design orders and offshore engineering works.

"NSDRC is trying independently as well as through proposed tie-ups with well-known design consultancy and research and development organisations in Europe and Russia, to tap the international market. Foreign organisations like Marine Structural Consultants of Netherlands and Krylov Ship Research Institute of Russia are among the few who have approached us," Gurudas Gupta, the deputy general manager (corporate business services) of NSDRC, told Business Standard.

"At present, a few major foreign orders are at the discussion stage, and are likely to materialise soon. During the next financial year, NSDRC's foreign earnings will go up considerably," Gupta said.

"To get more national and international orders, the company is maintaining international quality standards with a focus on ship design and engineering. At present we are working on designs for Andaman and Nicobar administration's 500- and 250-passenger vessels. We are also executing the restoration of a 400 PAX vessel for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which is being undertaken at Hoogly Dock and Port Engineering in Kolkata," he informed.

NSDRC provides comprehensive technical and economic consultancy to Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and offers specialist services to organisations like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), DG Shipping, Dredging Corporation of India, the ministry of defence, state fisheries and tourism departments.