India’s journey toward greater self-reliance in the maritime sector has reached an important milestone with L&T Special Steels and Heavy Forgings (LTSSHF) successfully dispatching multiple high-precision marine shafts to its customers. Measuring up to 13 metres in length, these critical components have been manufactured domestically, marking a significant step in reducing dependence on imports.
Marine shafts are essential elements in ship propulsion systems, transmitting power from engines to propellers and ensuring reliable performance at sea. Until now, shafts of this size and precision were largely sourced from international suppliers due to the complexity involved in their design and manufacturing. LTSSHF’s achievement demonstrates India’s growing capability to produce such advanced components within the country.
A flag-off ceremony held on 17 March commemorated the dispatch of these shafts. The event was attended by senior leadership from L&T, including Anil Parab, Whole-time Director and Senior Executive Vice President (Heavy Engineering & Manufacturing), and Laxmesh BH, Chief Executive of LTSSHF. Representatives from the customer organisation were also present and acknowledged the significance of this development for the Indian marine industry.
The successful indigenisation of long marine shafts reflects LTSSHF’s technical expertise and manufacturing strength in the field of heavy forgings. Producing these components requires advanced metallurgical processes, precise machining and rigorous quality assurance to meet demanding operational standards. By achieving this domestically, LTSSHF has strengthened India’s position in high-value marine engineering.
This milestone builds on the company’s established track record of localising critical forgings across multiple sectors. Over the years, LTSSHF has contributed to reducing import dependence in industries such as energy, defence and infrastructure, supporting the broader national focus on self-reliance in advanced manufacturing.
The company expressed its appreciation to its customers for their continued trust and collaboration. Their confidence has played a key role in enabling LTSSHF to take on complex engineering challenges and deliver solutions that meet global standards. The partnership is expected to grow further as more indigenous solutions are developed for the maritime sector.
With this achievement, LTSSHF reinforces its commitment to delivering world-class, made-in-India products that meet the evolving needs of the industry. The successful production and dispatch of these marine shafts signal a strong step forward in building domestic capabilities and supporting India’s ambitions of becoming a global manufacturing hub in heavy engineering.
