Garden Reach Shipbuilders strengthens export drive; second MPV takes shape with keel laying
Kolkata, December 31
As a mark of its commitment towards the "Make in India, Make for the World" vision, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd laid the keel for the second vessel of Multi-Purpose Vessel project being executed for Germany's Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG, on Monday, December 29.
The release stated that this contract - the largest for MPVs in GRSE's history - is a testament to the shipyard's efforts towards diversification of products and expansion to the global commercial shipbuilding market.
The ceremony was graced by M Venkatesh Murthy, Chief General Manager, CSB, GRSE, and Sujoy Chakravorty, Chief General Manager, Commercial, GRSE, in the presence of senior officials from GRSE and representatives from the German shipping firm & DNV.
The project involves the design and building of a modern series of high-performance vessels under the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series. The initial contract for four vessels was signed on June 22, 2024, followed by subsequent agreements bringing the total order to twelve boats. The final contracts, including the ninth to twelfth Hybrid Propulsion MPVs, were signed on September 19, 2025.
Each MPV will have an overall length of 120 metres, a beam of 17 metres, and a draught of 5.85 metres. With a capacity of 7,500 metric tonnes, these vessels feature a single large cargo hold designed for bulk, general, and project cargoes. An innovative feature is the ability to carry containers on hatch covers and multiple large wind turbine blades on deck, enhancing cargo-handling flexibility.
The project is being developed in close collaboration with German firms, including F.H. Bertling, ForestWav Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping.
As per the release, technical design expertise has been provided by M/s SEDS, in partnership with GRSE. These ships shall be certified by DNV, the classification society.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see the diversification. But I hope GRSE and the government also focus on modernising our own port infrastructure and coastal shipping fleet. We need these efficient vessels for domestic logistics too. The potential for job creation in ancillary industries is massive.
The specs are impressive! Carrying wind turbine blades is a smart feature, aligning with global green energy trends. Collaboration with German firms for design ensures world-class quality. Hope this success story encourages more PSUs to aim for global exports.
As someone in the logistics sector, the flexibility for bulk, general, AND project cargo in one vessel is a game-changer. The hybrid propulsion on the later vessels is also a welcome step. Cost-efficiency for operators will be significant.
From an initial order of 4 to 12 vessels! That's the real vote of confidence from the German client. It shows our execution and quality met their standards. This should silence the critics who say Indian manufacturing can't compete globally. Well done, GRSE team in Kolkata!
A respectful note of caution: While celebrating exports, we must ensure these high-value projects don't divert all skilled manpower and resources away from critical naval projects for our own defence. Balance is key. The article mentions it's the largest MPV contract for them, which is great for commercial growth.
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