As well as an unrivalled reference list of RoRo systems for commercial ships, MacGREGOR has 40 years' experience of providing cargo access/transfer systems for diverse naval vessel projects, the latest being for three Indian Navy landing ships

A contract from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd in Kolkata, India, calls for MacGREGOR RoRo Ships Division to design and supply three shipsets of access equipment for the Indian Navy's new LSTs (Landing Ship-Tank). The LST designs will be updated versions of two earlier vessels, Magar and Gharial, built by Garden Reach for the same customer, this latest contract boosting a yard which has been in business for 100 years.

The 124m-long x 17m-wide vessels will be commissioned into the Indian Navy to support amphibious operations, carrying equipment, cargo and troops and providing a landing capability directly onto the beachhead. The first is scheduled for launching early in 2004.

Although designed to interface with the existing vessels' arrangements, the equipment will feature MacGREGOR's latest technology and will be upgraded in terms of safety to meet the latest requirements of the classification society ABS. In particular, this dictates stronger bow doors and the incorporation of additional inner bow doors; a bow ramp, vehicle hatch/ramp and hatch cover will complete the outfit.

A technology-transfer deal will benefit one of the specialist divisions of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers by way of indigenous manufacture and engineering support for some hydraulic and mechanical components. The yard will manufacture the main steel structures under MacGREGOR's supervision, further benefiting local production facilities.

This latest contract reflects MacGREGOR RoRo Ships division's strategy of continuous involvement in the naval support ship market, offering a flexible and supportive approach to meet the specific needs of its customers worldwide.

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