GRSE Wins ₹840 Crore Contract for Ocean Research Vessel

Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. has clinched a significant ₹840 crore contract with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The agreement, announced on Tuesday, mandates GRSE to deliver an advanced Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) designed to bolster India's marine exploration capabilities.

The ORV, measuring 89.50 meters in length and boasting a gross tonnage of 5,900 tonnes, will support a range of scientific missions. Capable of operating at depths up to 6,000 meters, it will conduct swath multibeam and geophysical seismic surveys, along with conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profiling. The vessel will also facilitate water sampling using specialized nets for biological studies in coastal and deep-sea environments.

GRSE, leveraging its extensive experience in constructing survey vessels for the Indian Navy spanning nearly four decades, is currently refurbishing the Marine Acoustic Research Vessel INS Sagardhwani. Recently, the shipyard successfully delivered INS Sandhayak, India's largest survey vessel, to the Navy. With three more vessels of this class in various stages of completion, GRSE aims to advance its capabilities in designing and constructing cutting-edge marine research vessels.

"This contract underscores GRSE's commitment to advancing marine research capabilities through state-of-the-art vessel construction," affirmed an official statement from GRSE, highlighting the strategic importance of the ORV project for India's scientific and maritime interests.

News by Rahul Yelligetti