Naval Boat Building Yard Sri Lanka History and Operations

The Naval Boat Building Yard in Sri Lanka has a rich history that dates back to 1941. It was established as a ship repair yard during World War II.

The yard was initially used to repair ships damaged during the war. It was later converted into a boat building yard in 1955.

The yard's operations were taken over by the Sri Lankan Navy in 1971. Since then, it has been responsible for building and maintaining various naval vessels.

The yard has a workforce of over 1,000 skilled technicians and engineers who work together to design and build a range of naval boats.

If this caught your attention, see: Boat Insurance Alaska

The Naval Boat Building Yard in Sri Lanka is capable of producing a variety of boats.

The yard has experience in building patrol boats, which are typically 20-30 meters in length.

These boats are designed for coastal patrols and can reach speeds of up to 35 knots.

The yard also builds smaller boats, such as fiberglass boats, which are ideal for fishing and recreational purposes.

The dinghy boat is a versatile vessel that can serve a critical purpose in disaster management. It's manufactured at the Naval Boat Building Yard (NBBY) for use as a flood rescue boat.

This boat is specifically designed for disaster management centers, which highlights its importance in emergency situations.

The NBBY's expertise in boat manufacturing makes the dinghy boat a reliable choice for disaster management tasks.

The Sri Lankan Navy has developed several types of boats for various purposes. The Fast Landing Craft Utility (L 802) is a specially manufactured craft for the Sri Lankan Navy Marine Force.

It has a length overall of 14.85m and can reach speeds of up to 35 Knots. The craft is powered by a Murcury Bravo 2X propulsion system, which consumes 56 Ltr/hr at 5,500rpm.

The Lagoon Craft is designed for transferring passengers at waterways and lagoons. The Kayak boats manufactured at Naval Boat Building Yard (NBBY) are also designed for amphibious operations with improved stability and light weight.

The Passenger Ferry For Slldc has a fuel capacity of 400 Ltrs, making it suitable for long trips. The craft has been designed and built by NBBY for the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation to ease traffic congestion in Colombo city.

The Fast Landing Craft Utility (L 802) has a light load displacement of 11Tons and a draft of 0.62m at full load condition forward.

The Naval Boat Building Yard (NBBY) has a rich history that dates back to 2000, when it was founded as the Inshore Patrol Craft Construction Project (IPCCP) to combat terrorist activities in Sri Lanka. The yard was initially focused on building small attack boats, including swarm boats, to counter the Sea Tigers' asymmetric tactics.

The NBBY has since expanded its operations, exporting boats to foreign militaries such as Nigeria and Seychelles, and producing civilian-use crafts for government projects and private use. The yard's expertise in building high-speed boats has made it a valuable asset for the Sri Lankan Navy.

The NBBY's production of the Arrow-class boats, designed and developed by the Sri Lankan Navy, marked a significant milestone in the yard's history. The Arrow-class boats were instrumental in countering the Sea Tigers' swarming tactics, and their effectiveness was a major factor in the Navy's success against the LTTE.

The Boatyard has a fascinating history that dates back to 2000 when it was founded as the Inshore Patrol Craft Construction Project (IPCCP). This project was specifically designed to combat terrorist activities in North and East Sri Lanka during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

The Sri Lankan Navy was facing a unique challenge from the Sea Tigers, who used swarming tactics with explosive suicide boats. These tactics were effective against larger vessels, but the introduction of the Arrow-class boats by the Naval Boat Building Yard changed the game.

In just a few years, the Navy's confrontations with the LTTE decreased dramatically. By 2008, they were only facing the LTTE 04 times, compared to 21 times in 2006 and 12 times in 2007. This significant reduction in attacks was largely due to the Sea Tigers losing cadres and fighting platforms.

The end of the war marked a new era for the Boatyard, which expanded its operations and began exporting boats to foreign militaries like Nigeria and Seychelles.

The undergraduates of BSc Eng (Hons) in Marine Engineering and BSc Eng (Hons) in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering visited the Directorate of Naval Design (DND) at SLNS Thakshila, Welisara.

DND is the premier naval design unit in Sri Lanka Navy, equipped with the latest ship designing software and expertise staff.

The DND provided an ideal space for the undergraduates to gain maximum knowledge on ship designing process.

The undergraduates were able to witness ship construction process with modern technological approaches and general engineering practices at the Naval Boat Building Yard (NBBY).

Both DND and NBBY staff conducted theoretical and practical sessions to impart knowledge on ship designing and construction.

The undergraduates were able to gain inspiration and knowledge from the renowned industrial experts in boat designing and building.

The Sri Lanka Navy has undergone significant transformations since its inception. In July 1972, it was renamed from the Royal Ceylon Navy to the Sri Lanka Navy, and its ensign, along with the Flag Officers' flags, were redesigned.

The Navy received three more Type 062-class gunboats in December 1972, which allowed it to carry out effective coastal patrolling and several cruises to regional ports. New bases were established to counter smuggling operations in the coastal areas.

In the mid-1990s, the Navy expanded its fleet with the addition of newer Type 062-class gunboats and a Haiqing class submarine chaser. This was a significant upgrade, as the Haiqing class was capable of intercepting arms shipments destined for the LTTE within Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Navy started a fleet air arm (FAA) in 2000 by acquiring a HAL Chetak from India. This allowed the Navy to expand its surveillance capability by operating from newly acquired Offshore Patrol Vessels.

The Navy received a Reliance-class cutter from the United States Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program in 2004. This addition increased the Navy's conventional warfare capability.

The Navy has taken an active role in limiting the LTTE's use of the seas since early 2006. This resulted in several major sea battles occurring during the course of 2006, 2007, and 2009.

The Navy has also developed its own weapons development programmes to produce and maintain weapon systems suited for indigenous requirements. Some of the notable classes developed by the Navy include the Jayasagara class, Colombo class, and the Ranavijaya class.

Here are some of the notable international deployments of the Sri Lanka Navy:

The Sri Lanka Navy has invested in upgrading its naval systems to improve performance and efficiency. The Naval Propulsion and Steering Control (NPSC) project, for example, replaced obsolete systems with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based control system, saving the Navy Rs. 90 Million per craft.

The NPSC project was successfully completed in 2019 and has since been introduced to all relevant Fast Attack Craft. This upgrade has significantly improved the Navy's capabilities.

The Sri Lanka Navy has also focused on replacing obsolete systems with indigenously designed solutions. The Naval Steering Control (NSC) project, for instance, replaced the ASD control system with a PLC based control system, saving the Navy Rs. 10 Million per craft.

Here are some key upgrades made to the Sri Lanka Navy's systems:

The Sri Lankan Navy has a range of main weapons systems at its disposal, designed to take on various threats on the high seas. These systems include the Gabriel anti-ship missile, which is a powerful tool for taking out enemy vessels.

The Oto Melara 76 mm naval artillery is another key component of the Sri Lankan Navy's arsenal, providing a reliable and accurate means of engaging targets at sea. The PJ33A 100 mm dual gun naval artillery is also in use, offering a significant firepower boost.

The Typhoon - Naval Optronic Stabilized Weapon Platforms are a cutting-edge addition to the Sri Lankan Navy's arsenal, providing advanced targeting capabilities. The M242 Bushmaster - 25 mm (25x137mm) chain-fed autocannon is a versatile and reliable system for engaging targets at close range.

The Sri Lankan Navy is also set to install a locally developed guided missile system on its naval vessels, which will significantly enhance its capabilities in the region. Additionally, a 40-barrel and 20-barrel MRLS (Multiple Rocket Launcher System) will be installed on naval vessels, further increasing the Navy's firepower.

Here's a summary of the main weapons systems used by the Sri Lankan Navy:

The Sri Lanka Navy has made significant upgrades to its Fast Attack Craft, replacing outdated systems with more efficient and cost-effective ones.

The Naval Propulsion and Steering Control (NPSC) system was upgraded with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based system, saving Rs. 90 Million per craft.

This upgrade was a major success, and the NPSC system was subsequently introduced to all relevant Fast Attack Craft.

The use of PLC technology has been a game-changer for the Sri Lanka Navy, allowing for more responsive and reliable control systems.

The Naval Steering Control (NSC) project was also undertaken to replace the obsolete ASD control system with a PLC based system, saving Rs. 10 Million per craft.

This project was a huge success, with the entire project saving 105 million per craft, and all relevant Craft of the FAC series were upgraded with the new system.

The Sri Lanka Navy has shown that with the right upgrades and technologies, it's possible to improve efficiency and save costs.

The bilge alarm panel is a game-changer for naval ships like the SLNS Sagara. It was designed at a unit cost of LKR 150,000.00.

This addressable bilge alarm panel can pinpoint the exact location of a bilge sensor, making it easier for ship crews to respond to issues. The alarm is also given with a voice command, which is a nice touch.

The project cost for this bilge alarm panel was a relatively low LKR 50,000.00. It's amazing how this small investment can make such a big impact.

These bilge alarm panels have saved millions for the Sri Lanka Navy. It's a testament to the importance of investing in smart technology for naval ships.

By equipping their ships with bilge alarm panels, the Sri Lanka Navy can stay one step ahead of potential problems.