Keel laying ceremony at Karachi shipyard KARACHI, April 28 (PPI)-


Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain Monday performed the keel laying ceremony of 2nd small tanker-cum-utility ship being built for Pakistan Navy at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works. Speaking on the occasion he said the shipyard has played a significant role for helping Pakistan Navy in repairing and building ships and hoped that it would soon emerge as one of leading organizations by the sheer quality of work, skills and hard work. Earlier, Managing Director of KSEW, Vice Admiral Iftikhar Rao, thanked Pakistan Navy for reposing trust in KSEW capabilities for undertaking all future ships and submarine building requirements of Pakistan Navy. He said that KSEW is using its potential to earn Foreign Exchange through foreign orders as well. “ We have already received basic design specification for new shipbuilding orders from abroad and are negotiating costs and modalities with them,” he said. At present, KSEW is building two tanker type ships which would be completed before its scheduled time of 2010, he added. (Posted @ 17:40 PST)

woot!

Post pictures when the ship is launched!

Karachi yard building again

KSEW starts vital work on tanker/utility ship for Pakistan’s navy as top brass turn out.

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) in Pakistan has taken an important step towards a return to shipbuilding by starting work on a tanker/utility ship for the country’s navy.

The keel of the vessel, the first of two, was laid during a ceremony at the state-run shipyard on Monday, with high-ranking civil and military officials in attendance.

maybe these ships are being made to replace PNS Moawin.

Karachi yard building again

KSEW starts vital work on tanker/utility ship for Pakistan’s navy as top brass turn out.

Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) in Pakistan has taken an important step towards a return to shipbuilding by starting work on a tanker/utility ship for the country’s navy.

The keel of the vessel, the first of two, was laid during a ceremony at the state-run shipyard on Monday, with high-ranking civil and military officials in attendance.

The previous govt. tried lots of channels to start ship building in Pakistan and this contract is a realization of the efforts of Shaukat Aziz in making KSEW restart ship building in Pakistan.

Ship building is a very good industry and we should have more input from the private sector.

Govt to strengthen Navy to meet security challenges: PM
ISLAMABAD, Apr 29 APP:

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday said the government would strengthen Pakistan Navy to make it an effective force capable of meeting security challenges.

During his visit to Naval Headquarters, the Prime Minister said he fully realized the importance of maritime sector for its defence as well as economic potential.

Gilani said the country’s navy was fully prepared and geared up to safeguard maritime interests in terms of defence.

He expressed the confidence in the professional capabilities of Pakistan Navy with regard to the defence of country’s maritime frontiers.

He said Pakistan’s lifeline is its international trade that almost in totality is carried through the sea.

Earlier on arrival at NHQs, the Prime Minister was received by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir.

The Prime Minister was presented guard of honour by a smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy. Later, he was introduced to Chief of Staff and Principle Staff Officers serving at Naval Headquarters.

A detailed briefing was given to Prime Minister by Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal on ‘Emerging Maritime Environment and Naval Strategy Aspects’. Federal Ministers for Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs along with senior officers of Pakistan Navy attended the briefing.

In last 15 years of economic growth, South Korea turned out to be the biggest ship building industry, why cant pakistan do that?? world class tankers can get us international contracts and also will help us eventually build super structures like heavy destroyers and frigates or may be lts aircrafts carriers(wishful thinking) in next 15 to 20 years...

In last 15 years of economic growth, South Korea turned out to be the biggest ship building industry, why cant pakistan do that?? world class tankers can get us international contracts and also will help us eventually build super structures like heavy destroyers and frigates or may be lts aircrafts carriers(wishful thinking) in next 15 to 20 years...

The proximity of Korea with Japan has helped it get the spillway projects which were economically not viable in Japan including financing from Japan.

Otherwise of course the hardwork of the nation and political stability, we don't have none of the options and include this with constant interference of USA in our internal politics.

If the naval modernization program goes ahead, Pakistani shipbuilding will extend to Gwadar and Port Qasim with both private and public yards.

I have a question, We are building these support ships and boats for a while now...what is most difficult part in making bigger surface ship building in which Pakistan lacks? Engine turbines,Signalling systems, Naval radars etc? what is our most weak area in naval ship building. An objective answer is required.

I have a question, We are building these support ships and boats for a while now...what is most difficult part in making bigger surface ship building in which Pakistan lacks? Engine turbines,Signalling systems, Naval radars etc? what is our most weak area in naval ship building. An objective answer is required.

Pakshaheen engines, turbines, signalling system, etc are usually bought from companies having expertise & copyright technology. I mean Caterpillar, Perkins, Rollsroyce, Stork, MTU have been producing engines since like 100 years including have digested other smaller engine producing countries in abundance. We cannot go into engine manufacturing let alone radar technology, which is again already on the start up on other platforms like AWC, etc .. surely in the long run we will acquire it. (this is were India shot itself in the foot over Arjun & LCA).

What is required is classed (BV, ISO, etc.) semi-skilled manpower ... we should produce welders, x-ray welders / fabricators, marine engineers, etc in abundance & make sure they do not go overseas. Once we start producing or repairing marine equipment from small to big. Take for example offshore fabrication of oil rigs is a lucrative business, but in this we need private sector to come forward.

Of course international companies due to security reasons would not like to come to Pakistan, hence, our own private companies should start up with J.V. especially since UAE is in the proximity ...

This is a start up .. govt. tenders for our own shipyards would be very nice .. but again we need timely completion of govt. orders .. no lame excuses ...

must7, I was asking purly from design and research prospective. Semi skilled wokers will be very handy but only in actual fabrication process but prior to that we will have to someone with high level skills in design naval ships. What you think?

must7, I was asking purly from design and research prospective. Semi skilled wokers will be very handy but only in actual fabrication process but prior to that we will have to someone with high level skills in design naval ships. What you think?

Brother at the present time I would say let's start with commercial production of TOT products. R&D is much latter stage. The world is centralizing in R&D.

Just look at photocopiers named : Ricoh, OCE, Nashuatec, Gestetner ! What do they have in common ! One factory for all these companies is producing the photocopier i.e; Ricoh. All of them are established names but in view of financing the R&D .. they have sublet or rather started sharing with RICOH for themselves.

Even China is doing the same, after atleast 2 decades of good progressive production of material, we can go into marine R&D .. otherwise at least start from semi-skilled base which will lead to skilled workers & than the R&D in design & production can be harnessed.

Though Pakistan might already have radar and electronic related work going on with foreign partners such as China and Turkey. For one Pakistan is developing an AWACS with the Chinese, so there should be some definite phased-array related work going on. I wouldn't be surprised if we see multiple applications and varying levels being produced in Pakistan; AWACS, land-based, ships, etc. As PN is apparently choosing the MILGEM corvette and possibly even TF-100 frigate, expect some exposure to their GENESIS technology.

As for ship-building itself...well the jump-start would definitely be public & private partnerships in meeting the requirements of the Navy and security forces. Over the next 20-30 the Pakistani shipyard may build many major surface combatants and submarines for local requirements. With emerging markets in Africa & Latin America, we may see some commercial building of leisure and transport ships. If our folks are smart, then some giant sea-trade corporations could arise to meet requirements of Central Asian countries.

Mark! you made some interesting points I don't think it must take 20 years to produce surface ships after we are acquiring TOT in Frigates while we are already building missiles boats and subs. So i think next 10years will be very interesting

pakistani govt should provide fundings to private companies in Pakistan for R&D of major ship components like engines, shafts, boiler rooms,. Similarly, companies working on matellurgical components should get R&D for new materials for stress analysis and strength of alloys.

Material R&D can be developed by providing R&D money to universities like GHulam Ishaq khan university which has excellend metallurgical PHDs and state of the art labs with electron microscopes and vaccum furnances.

Mechanical companies like descon are one of many which has excellent engineers which can design shafts, engines for ships. we need to get our private industry funded for major projects. its can be done.

Then large scale state orders for producing alloys can be met by steel industry of pakistan.

Then avionics can be dealt on these ships by giving R&D to companies like AERO pakistan which has been working to develop avionics software for pakistan airforce. they can work in collaboration of chinese to come up with local radars for ships and ASW suites...


Hence, our money will stay within our coutnry. strong defence and strong economy by rolling our own industry

Guys we are hardly able to make a Lloyds or BV classed vessel alone and you are ready to produce engines by Descon ! This is exactly what India did for it's LCA & Arjun and just look where they are.

Caterpillar, Perkings, Stork Wartsilla or MTU are mass producers of engines including holding copyrights of majority of existing designs in engines. Give these companies tax free environment ++++ and let them produce and export engines in Pakistan ...

Starting your own engine .. I don't see it happening with the present technological base ..

Heck what .. we have as yet not even been able to build a international calibre steel mill in Pakistan and we are talking about by products of the highest calibre !

i am definately not implying that we should build our own design. Get TOT use existing design and maufacture engines, turbine, shafts locally within pakistan. heck we can get TOT for ships from china and start doing it.

As far as things like radar, sensors, weapons go, we can import them if needed... like we will for JF-17, and like India does for all its "local-built" ships.

But the main obstacle seems to be lack of experience in terms of ship design and metallurgy. We have already shown that we possess the facilities to build large ships. But can those ships survive high sea states like warships are supposed to? Will they be able to float after a missile hit? Will they develop cracks after being in seas for a while?

After the local F-22P, I'm confident we'll be halfway there... and after the Milgem, for sure. I think there are lots of skilled people, but the knowledge and experience is needed. Only way we'll get the capability is by actually making attempts and leaning from mistakes. But this would be a very expensive process for Pakistan, both in terms of money and time wasted, thats why the best way is to have China and Turkey show us.

You are right about current situation but i think recently Pak govt is pouring in some money in KSEW to upgrade its facilities. There are many areas as you identify but there must be a point to start with.

I believe Pakistan will focus on locally producing the hull, sensors, radars and weapons of its ships - perhaps even the helicopters. However in all areas I honestly do not see us manufacturing propulsion systems for a fairly long time - at least not in the next 10 years. When asked about MBT engines, the HIT Chairman said that producing the engines - although possible under foreign license - was not beneficial to the cost:performance ratio. The other issue is the depolitization of military trade, I honestly don't think we will have issues importing propulsion from anyone - China, France or Germany. To exporters it is simply a matter of making profit, sure Pakistan might end up paying more under a private commercial contract, but it would get the engines.

Mark, I think HIT must have start it as a separate project. Just acquire some TOT to start a preliminary study and draw plan to design and manufacturing parts of engines, starting with easier and smaller parts to more complex ones like transmission controls, gear boxes etc. But if we start a long term project by spending a lower amount of money to deeply study and modeling engines on CAD/CAM simulators. Once we got enough confidence and skills building a test bed engine will not take much money we can spend the projects over say 10-12 years to keep its cost down per year basis.

I know it will be the last thing needed to be master in order to make a full home grown ship or vehicle mean while we can put more money to get top notch tech regarding sensors and radars like things and making frames and hulls.