DCNS chief blames Indian shipyard for submarine project delay

Patrick Boissier, Chairman and CEO of DCNS has blamed India’s state owned shipyard MDL for delays in launching the first submarine under the P75 project which is to build six submarines in India with technology from DCNS. In opening remarks during a press conference in Delhi, Boissier said, “MDL is the only Indian naval shipyard to have produced submarines in the past. However, the competencies developed have seen a ‘breach’ for the last 15 years. Considering submarines technologies, this is a huge gap to fill". He said, “human competences, when not maintained, disappear slowly but surely and industrial means become not adapted to the needs or (become) obsolete. You therefore have to consider new investments and learning stages that cost both time and money. It is crucial to keep competences and industrial means up to date to perpetuate the investments made". He said following the delay in the launch of the first submarine, DCNS is working with MDL and authorities in Delhi to achieve the earliest possible date of launch. For the upcoming stages of the project such as outfittings together with systems integration and running of trials, an adapted organisation from the shipyard is needed. Together with MDL, we created a common ‘task force’ aiming at quality and at the greatest efficiency. On a positive note, Boissier said that MDL has today absorbed the demanding technologies associated to hull fabrication. The Indian shipyard is done with the hulls of the first and second submarines. Third and fourth hulls are in progress while the frame to receive the hull of the fifth submarine is under manufacture.