Bokaro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier-INS Vikrant- the largest ship ever built in India’s maritime history, in Kochi on Friday. As their efforts contributed to the nation’s growth, Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) officials and employees expressed their joy and excitement on the commissioning of the warship.
It was BSL, a unit of SAIL, which supplied part of the 30T melt of DMR-249A steel for the ship’s construction which began in 2002. The specific grade steel, DMR plates, utilised in the building of the INS Vikrant is import substitution. This warship’s hull and vessel interiors were made of DMR plates of Grade 249 A, while the flying deck was made of DMR plates of Grade 249 B.
262 metres long and 62 metres wide, INS Vikrant is the largest warship to be built in India. It can have 30 aircraft on board and a crew of nearly 1,600. The 45,000-tonne warship has been built at a cost of ₹ 20,000 crore.
Chief of communication, BSL, Manikant Dhan said “on the occasion of commissioning ceremony of India’s first indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant, SAIL- Bokaro Steel Plant takes immense pride in the fact that it has not only supplied the DMR warship grade steel for the carrier for it’s critical parts, but has also been a foremost partner with Indian Navy in its quest for warship grade steel during the last 20 years”.
He said, one of the first trials of the defence grade steel ever in India was carried out in Bokaro Steel Plant as back as early as in 2002. This rather modest beginning paved the way for the subsequent production of more than 50000 tonnes of DMR steel (till date), including 30000 tonnes for the INS Vikrant by SAIL- with a good chunk out of it (around 7000 tonnes ) coming from Bokaro Steel Plant.
Dhan pointed “that Bokaro Steel Plant has achieved this unique feat without having a dedicated Vacuum Degasser Unit which otherwise is vital for producing steel of such a grade anywhere in the world. It reflects the mettle of our engineers and workers, working always for nation building”.
Notably, the DMR grade steel is highly corrosion resistant (to withstand salinity of seawater) with specific weight & resilient qualities for warship & other maritime uses characterised by higher strength & superior toughness at temperature as low as -60 degree C.
Earlier, marine grade steel was mostly imported. The indigenously developed & produced steel has given a shot in the arm to ‘Make in India’ drive apart from achieving self-reliance in a strategic material through import substitution.
This continuous journey of partnership with the Indian Navy has achieved an important milestone today in the shape of the engineering Marvel called INS Vikrant.
