GRSE Secures Contract to Build Two Coastal Research Vessels for GSI

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has signed a contract to build two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The agreement was signed Cdr Shantanu Bose, Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, and Dr N. M. Shareef, Deputy Director General & HoD, Marine & Coastal Survey Division, GSI, in the presence of Shri Asit Saha, Director General, GSI, and senior officials from both organizations.

Each CRV will measure 64 meters in length and 12 meters in width, with a deadweight tonnage of 450 tons. The vessels will have an endurance of 15 days, a top speed of 10 knots, and accommodation for 35 personnel. Equipped with modern laboratories, they will support offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration, ocean environment monitoring, and research. The ships will feature Dynamic Positioning-1 systems for stable operations and diesel-electric propulsion, allowing them to operate within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone at depths ranging from 5 to 1,000 meters.

GRSE’s expertise in research vessel construction is well established, having previously delivered INS Sagardhwani in 1994, six survey vessels to the Navy between 1981 and 1993, and two Survey Vessels (Large) of the Sandhayak class over the past two years. The shipyard is currently building 16 warships for the Indian Navy, two additional Sandhayak-class survey vessels, and eight multipurpose cargo vessels for a German client. GRSE has also emerged as the lowest bidder for the Navy’s Next Generation Corvettes (NGC) programme, with expectations to build five vessels under this contract.