VINOD BHAT
NEW DELHI, Feb 13: In a significant push towards maritime self-reliance, the Director General of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), DG Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM, on Thursday inaugurated the state-of-the-art MJP India Waterjet Production & Testing Facility in Goa. The landmark development marks a decisive stride in strengthening India’s indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem and enhancing operational sustainability for the Bharatiya Tatrakshak.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries including IG Sudhir Sahni, TM, Deputy Director General (Materiel & Maintenance), ICG; Mr Jonas Tegstrom, CEO of MJP AB, Sweden; Mr Stefan Sjölin, COO of MJP AB; and Mr MPS Gill, Managing Director & CEO of MJP India.
The newly established facility assumes strategic importance as more than 100 MJP waterjet propulsion systems are already operational across various Bharatiya Tatrakshak vessels. An additional 42 waterjet systems are slated for integration into ships currently under construction. With the commissioning of this advanced production and testing unit, India will now be able to locally manufacture, test, and sustain these critical propulsion systems, significantly reducing dependence on overseas facilities for maintenance and lifecycle support.
Addressing the gathering, the Director General lauded MJP AB, Sweden, for setting up this advanced capability in India under the Manufacturing and Transfer of Technology (ToT) framework. He highlighted that with this development, India becomes the third country in the world—after the United States and South Korea—to host such a comprehensive waterjet production and testing facility. This milestone, he noted, reflects the success of sustained multi-tier engagements between the Indian Coast Guard and MJP since 2023, culminating in a concrete step toward indigenisation.
The DG reaffirmed the Coast Guard’s steadfast commitment to the Government of India’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in the maritime domain. He emphasised that indigenisation is not merely a policy objective but a strategic necessity for ensuring uninterrupted operational readiness and maritime security.
The MJP India facility is expected to catalyse the creation of a robust domestic supply chain for marine propulsion systems. Besides enabling indigenous testing and quality assurance of waterjets, it is poised to evolve into a regional hub catering to South Asia and neighbouring regions. The facility is also anticipated to generate skilled employment opportunities, stimulate the MSME sector, and deepen technological absorption within the country’s marine engineering ecosystem.
Later, DG Paramesh Sivamani visited Chowgule & Company Pvt Ltd in Goa to review progress on six indigenously built Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) being constructed for the Bharatiya Tatrakshak. This marks India’s first such project with 50 per cent indigenous content. The ACVs are designed to enhance coastal surveillance and rapid response capabilities along the country’s vast coastline. The first of these platforms is scheduled for delivery in May 2026.
The twin developments—the commissioning of the waterjet production facility and the progress on indigenous ACVs—underscore the Coast Guard’s concerted drive towards technological self-reliance, operational resilience, and strengthened coastal security architecture.
