The Indian Navy has proposed the aquisition of a second floating dock (FDN-2) at an estimated cost of Rs3bn ($67.2m), to be stationed at Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The navy had floated the expression of interest for FDN-2 and procurement plans are in advanced stages, a navy official said.

FDN-2 would be smaller with a lifting capacity of around 8,000t, and the proposed contenders for the contract could be Russia and Germany.

The need for FDN-2 is due to an increase in the number of warships over the next decade, though FDN-1 is optimally utilised except for aircraft carriers and oil tankers.

The Japanese-built FDN-1 was procured at a cost of Rs2.5bn-Rs3bn ($56m-$67.2m) and has a lifting capacity of 11,500t, according to the Economic Times.

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