The Indian Navy is to construct a floating dock at Port Blair to enable the repair and refit of warships at sea rather than at shore-based dry docks.

A request for information has been issued by the navy to global shipbuilders for construction of the dock, which will have a 8,000t lift capability at Port Blair, according to PTI.

According to navy officials, India already has a floating dock at Port Blair and the new facility, which will open from 2012-13, would increase naval capabilities.

In November 2002, a navy floating dock sunk off Port Blair after the ballast tanks flooded during a power failure.