New Delhi (Agency): A three-member delegation from the Royal Thailand Navy visited the Warship Design Bureau (WDB) of the Indian Navy in New Delhi on September 4th and 5th, 2023. The visit aimed to grow cooperation between the two countries in the areas of ship design and construction. This move was agreed upon during the 12th staff talks between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Thailand Navy (RTN).
Capt Jakarin of the RTN, serving as Defence Attaché, accompanied the delegation. The group had detailed discussions with Rear Admiral (RAdm) IB Uthaiah, the Director-General of WDB, focusing on various aspects of ship design and construction.
The delegation was given a complete tour of the WDB facility. They were briefed on the history of indigenous naval shipbuilding in India and shown various key facilities. This included design tools, best practices in use, model testing capabilities, and the local ecosystem for equipment manufacturing.
The delegation also held in-depth talks with experts at WDB on different aspects of ship design and construction. They were particularly interested in understanding how India’s indigenous capabilities have evolved over time. The delegation is further scheduled to visit the Goa Shipyard Limited to explore different construction technologies employed by the shipyard.
The visit of the Thailand Navy delegation is seen as an important step in bolstering maritime ties between India and Thailand. Both countries have shown a mutual interest in strengthening their naval capabilities through cooperation in design and construction. The discussions during the visit are expected to set the ground for future collaborations in these key areas.