I\NDIAN SHIP-BUILDING company Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL) has awarded a contract to Germany-based Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the overhaul and upgrade of the Indian Navy’s Shishumar-class submarine INS Shishumar.

Under the Medium Refit and Life Certification contract, TKMS will be responsible for delivering new equipment for the vessel.

In addition, the contract includes maintenance of systems and components, in addition to on-site technical support and logistical services in the form of documentation, training and spare parts.

The agreement involves provision for a life certification that warrants the operability of the submarine’s pressure hull over the next ten years.

TKMS chief executive officer Dr Rolf Wirtz said: “We are looking forward to working with MDL to perform the deep modernisation work to ensure that INS Shishumar remains a very capable combat submarine for the Indian Navy over the years to come.

“Our experience with the Shishumar class and the outstanding skills of MDL’s employees are the basis for the return of the submarine back to the Indian Navy in great shape.”

The refit will be carried out at MDL’s dockyard in Mumbai and is expected to be completed by 2021.

Based on HDW Class 209 design, the Indian Navy’s Shishumar-class submarines are built with special features such as a larger diameter of the pressure hull, a pressure-resistant bulkhead, and a rescue sphere.

Construction of the first two submarines of the class, INS Shishumar and INS Shankush, was carried out at TKMS shipyard in Kiel, Germany.