India is such an amazing experience: DCNS' Patrick Boissier
Patrick Boissier, chairman and CEO of French naval construction giant DCNS, gives you the impression that nothing else excites him more than your questions. But he isn't being deceptive. "We are happy to state that our integration and working relationship with MDL (Mazagon Docks) is seamless and operationally efficient," he says. Under the ongoing P75 programme - India's biggest submarine-building project - MDL is producing six Scorpene submarines through a transfer-oftechnology deal with DCNS.
On reasons for the delay in the P75 programme, he says one has to approach the question in the context of the project's complexity. "The Scorpene programme by its very nature is huge, complex and challenging both in terms of competences and the industrial means involved," notes Boissier, who was in Delhi recently. Boissier adds that "integration of large teams always take time". He adds, "On a technical point of view, a submarine needs to fulfil strong requirements (safety of the crew, acoustic discretion, reliability, availability, etc), while operating in harsh environments. When the submarine dives, the physical constraints involved are very important. Temperature variations and repeated dives mean your submarine's structure will go through a lot of dilatations and contractions. One needs to be precise and accurate not only in the design phase but also in the manufacture and assembling of every part involved. This is when the DCNS team liaises with MDL providing daily training and support on the supervision."
Moreover, according to him, one has to bear in mind that MDL had stopped manufacturing submarines for more than 10 years until the P75 programme was awarded. "As expected, teething problems are inevitable and MDL has been able to overcome them in only some three years."
"To date, MDL has completed fabrication of the hulls of five submarines. The sixth hull shall be completed by the yearend and outfitting works are in progress on the first submarine," he adds, emphasising that "this is a commendable accomplishment." Boissier finds the Indian Navy as well as Indian companies experienced in their respective fields.
"The learning opportunity for DCNS and the Indian companies is quite mutual," he notes. "With support from MDL, DCNS is working at selection and qualification of Indian companies as partners for local production of equipment for Scorpenes. For example, with the expertise and cooperation of Flash Forge India, DCNS India has delivered the first locally-produced Scorpene submarine equipment to MDL. Additionally, DCNS India has announced a partnership recently with SEC Industries India under the Scorpene submarine programme," he explains.
He goes on to dwell at length on his other India projects. "DCNS is aiming at P75I (a follow-up to P75) and the LPD (landing platform docks) programme.
In P75I, we have answered the RFI (request for information) and are now waiting for the RFP (request for proposal). We believe that we will be in a position to propose a submarine meeting all the expectations."
"We believe our Mistral-class amphibious ship could be the answer on needs of the Indian Navy's modernisation programme," he adds.
On innovative projects in the pipeline, including underwater nuclear energy projects, he says, "DCNS has built up a unique expertise in the course of its history on securing the oceans (it builds warships and submarines besides offering other naval services). Today, we want to go further by developing solutions not only to secure, but also to make the most of the oceans in a sustainable way."
He adds, "In civil nuclear energy, we are developing a subsea nuclear power plant named FlexBlue.
The FlexBlue concept calls for plant housed in a cylindrical hull measuring around 100 m in length. Flex-Blue plants are designed to be moored on an extremely-stable sea floor at a depth of 60-100 ma few kilometres offshore. A FlexBlue plant should be able to meet the electricity requirements of regions with a population of 1-10 lakh, depending on the plant's power rating, living standards and the needs of local industries."
He hastens to add that the company came up with this concept even before last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. "Fukushima was a very tragic event. Japan faced both a striking earthquake and a huge tsunami.
The power plant was hit by both and faced structural damages and cooling issues. FlexBlue is to be moored on the seabed; it wouldn't be endangered by earthquakes. As FlexBlue is to be installed at a depth of 60-100 m a few kilometres offshore, tsunamis wouldn't have any impact."
He says DCNS is investing heavily in research and development on "four key renewable marine energies". They include offshore floating windmills on which first trials at sea are expected by early 2013.
"We are also focusing on wave energy, ocean thermal energy conversion and tidal stream energy," he says.
"We believe India - through its huge maritime footprint - would be interested in more of our solutions," he sums up.
DCNS' Patrick Boissier: India is such an amazing experience - The Economic Times
Mistral Class Amphibious Assault Ship
Patrick Boissier, chairman and CEO of French naval construction giant DCNS, gives you the impression that nothing else excites him more than your questions. But he isn't being deceptive. "We are happy to state that our integration and working relationship with MDL (Mazagon Docks) is seamless and operationally efficient," he says. Under the ongoing P75 programme - India's biggest submarine-building project - MDL is producing six Scorpene submarines through a transfer-oftechnology deal with DCNS.
On reasons for the delay in the P75 programme, he says one has to approach the question in the context of the project's complexity. "The Scorpene programme by its very nature is huge, complex and challenging both in terms of competences and the industrial means involved," notes Boissier, who was in Delhi recently. Boissier adds that "integration of large teams always take time". He adds, "On a technical point of view, a submarine needs to fulfil strong requirements (safety of the crew, acoustic discretion, reliability, availability, etc), while operating in harsh environments. When the submarine dives, the physical constraints involved are very important. Temperature variations and repeated dives mean your submarine's structure will go through a lot of dilatations and contractions. One needs to be precise and accurate not only in the design phase but also in the manufacture and assembling of every part involved. This is when the DCNS team liaises with MDL providing daily training and support on the supervision."
Moreover, according to him, one has to bear in mind that MDL had stopped manufacturing submarines for more than 10 years until the P75 programme was awarded. "As expected, teething problems are inevitable and MDL has been able to overcome them in only some three years."
"To date, MDL has completed fabrication of the hulls of five submarines. The sixth hull shall be completed by the yearend and outfitting works are in progress on the first submarine," he adds, emphasising that "this is a commendable accomplishment." Boissier finds the Indian Navy as well as Indian companies experienced in their respective fields.
"The learning opportunity for DCNS and the Indian companies is quite mutual," he notes. "With support from MDL, DCNS is working at selection and qualification of Indian companies as partners for local production of equipment for Scorpenes. For example, with the expertise and cooperation of Flash Forge India, DCNS India has delivered the first locally-produced Scorpene submarine equipment to MDL. Additionally, DCNS India has announced a partnership recently with SEC Industries India under the Scorpene submarine programme," he explains.
He goes on to dwell at length on his other India projects. "DCNS is aiming at P75I (a follow-up to P75) and the LPD (landing platform docks) programme.
In P75I, we have answered the RFI (request for information) and are now waiting for the RFP (request for proposal). We believe that we will be in a position to propose a submarine meeting all the expectations."
"We believe our Mistral-class amphibious ship could be the answer on needs of the Indian Navy's modernisation programme," he adds.
On innovative projects in the pipeline, including underwater nuclear energy projects, he says, "DCNS has built up a unique expertise in the course of its history on securing the oceans (it builds warships and submarines besides offering other naval services). Today, we want to go further by developing solutions not only to secure, but also to make the most of the oceans in a sustainable way."
He adds, "In civil nuclear energy, we are developing a subsea nuclear power plant named FlexBlue.
The FlexBlue concept calls for plant housed in a cylindrical hull measuring around 100 m in length. Flex-Blue plants are designed to be moored on an extremely-stable sea floor at a depth of 60-100 ma few kilometres offshore. A FlexBlue plant should be able to meet the electricity requirements of regions with a population of 1-10 lakh, depending on the plant's power rating, living standards and the needs of local industries."
He hastens to add that the company came up with this concept even before last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. "Fukushima was a very tragic event. Japan faced both a striking earthquake and a huge tsunami.
The power plant was hit by both and faced structural damages and cooling issues. FlexBlue is to be moored on the seabed; it wouldn't be endangered by earthquakes. As FlexBlue is to be installed at a depth of 60-100 m a few kilometres offshore, tsunamis wouldn't have any impact."
He says DCNS is investing heavily in research and development on "four key renewable marine energies". They include offshore floating windmills on which first trials at sea are expected by early 2013.
"We are also focusing on wave energy, ocean thermal energy conversion and tidal stream energy," he says.
"We believe India - through its huge maritime footprint - would be interested in more of our solutions," he sums up.
DCNS' Patrick Boissier: India is such an amazing experience - The Economic Times
Mistral Class Amphibious Assault Ship
