New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) To facilitate the building of new generation warships, Defence Minister A.K. Antony will Saturday commission a Rs. 400-crore infrastructure modernisation project at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL).

The first and second phases of the recently-completed modernisation project will boost the shiplift facility, piers, two repair berths and transfer area at the premier defence public sector undertaking, an official statement Thursday said.

"Setting the ball rolling for creation of new generation vessels, the defence minister will commission the first and second phases of Goa Shipyard Limited's (GSL) infrastructure modernisation project on Saturday. Completed at a cost of Rs. 400 crore, the project will boost the shiplift facility and piers, two repair berths and transfer area at the premier defence shipyard," a defence ministry release said.

The shiplift system at GSL will be the first of its kind in defence shipyards in the country. Antony will also also lay the foundation stone for the third and fourth phases of GSL's modernisation project on the occasion, the release said.

The commissioning of the shiplift facility will coincide with the launching by the defence minister's wife Elizabeth Antony of the third in the series of naval offshore patrol vessels indigenously designed and being built by GSL for the Indian Navy.

The first and second phases of GSL modernisation was completed in a record 28 months since the foundation stone was laid by Antony on Jan. 21, 2009.

"The four-phased modernisation plan, with a budget of Rs. 800 crore, aims at creating capacity in the shipyard for the production of cutting-edge technology warships. It aims at creating new facilities and infrastructure, whilst augmenting existing facilities in order to achieve the qualitative and quantitative objectives of building and delivering quality ships at competitive cost with shorter construction periods, increased capacity, product mix and shortened delivery times," the release said.

"Once completed, it will substantially augment the yard's capacity to fabricate and construct steel, aluminum and GRP hull vessels to nearly three times," it added.

The defence minister will also visit the upcoming naval base at Karwar in Karnataka, where he will inaugurate a naval civilian township at Amdalli.

"The township, built at a cost of over Rs. 145 crore, comprises 336 houses for civilian employees of the naval base, power and water supply systems, sewage treatment plant and a secured boundary," the release said.

For the second phase of Project Seabird, as the Karwar base is called, a nod is awaited from the Cabinet Committee on Security for another township for uniformed personnel of the naval base that will comprise 3,104 dwelling units, schools, sports facilities and a swimming pool.

Project Seabird -- the foundation stone for which was laid by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on Oct. 24, 1986 -- was set up to facilitate construction of infrastructure and facilities for a greenfield naval base at Karwar. The first phase of the project, at a cost of Rs. 2,628.82 crore, envisages facilities for basing of 11 ships and 10 other craft.