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NAVAL DESPATCH
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of Kolhapur (a descendent of Chatrapati Shivaji) still
stands proudly aloft and adorns themain entrance to
the Administrative Block. The establishment celebrated
its Diamond Jubilee (60 years) in Feb 2005 with great
fanfare and with the added attraction of many of its
former Commanding Officers present.
Some of the historical landmarks in the growth
of INS Shivaji from 1945 till to date are highlighted in
the subsequent paragraphs.
titled “The Birth of a Naval Engineering Museum” and
published in the JNE (UK) June-1966.
The training imparted was based on similar lines
as at HMS Fisgard (artificer training establishment). The
SDR which served as the cradle of the marine engineer
of the Indian Navy evoked a remark from Admiral
Sergei Gorshkov, Admiral of the Soviet Navy during
his visit to INS Shivaji in May 1968 with the author as
his Liaison Officer, viz. “You (addressed to the C.O) are
overtraining your men”. This snap remark came after
being shown the prizewinning test jobs of the passing
out artificers on completion of the 4 years’ course. It is
earnestly hoped that this observation made by the
Admiral of the Soviet Navy would be taken due note
of by our naval planners when acquiring the Soviet
carrier, Gorshkov.
TECHNOLOGICAL GROWTH
The technological growth broadly covers the
setting up of steam, diesel and gas turbine training
wings to cope up with the various acquisitions of ships,
both from western and far eastern sources as outlined
below.
Steam Demonstration Room (1949)
It was the first marine facility to have been set up
in 1949. It served as a focal point of Marine
Engineering practical hands-on training. The
Britishers took considerable efforts to transport heavy
equipments and machinery such as 3 drum Admiralty
Boiler (ex-HMIS Baluchistan), Steam reciprocating
engine, 2500 HP (ex-HMS Bethrust), Steam turbine
with reduction gearing, 2500 HP (ex-HMS Protector)
and other steam-driven auxiliary machineries from
Mumbai up the ghats to Lonavala at a height of 2200
feet above MSL. The old machineries of the SDR are
still there for one to see, thanks to the author who as
the C.O. then, had the vision and courage to prevent
it from demolition/auction by a government order
and salvaged it by transforming it into a Naval
Engineering Museum. The story of this transformation
has been vividly covered by the author under an article
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SEPTEMBER 2010
Nuclear (Atomic), Biological, Chemical and
Damage Control School (1955)
The ABCD (later NBCD) school was set up in
1955. It is to the credit of our naval planners to have
foreseen the need of NBCD training and were indeed
the first to do so amongst its sister services. It has now
grown to a school of eminence, perhaps, the only one
of its kind east of Suez. The training in NBCD school
has gained priority in view of the terrorist attack on
USA.
College of Naval Engineering (1957)
Till 1957, the training of all engineer officers of
the Indian Navy was undertaken at RNEC, Manadon.
The setting up of the College in 1957 marked a
significant milestone in the history of Marine
Engineering Training indicating thereby its total
independence from outside countries and relying on
its own indigenous resources. However, the
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