Kolkata: It was a momentous occasion for Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Thursday, April 17, 2025, as the shipyard cut steel for the eight ship Multipurpose Vessel (MPV) project being executed for Germany’s Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG. This project marks GRSE’s first major export order for MPVs, highlighting the shipyard’s expanding footprint in the global commercial shipbuilding market.
The ceremony was graced by Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE and Thomas Rehder, Managing Director of Carsten Rehder. Also present on the occasion were RK Dash, Director (Finance), GRSE, Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN(Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG(Retd), Director (Personnel), GRSE, Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO, GRSE, senior officials from GRSE and representatives from the German shipping firm.
This steel-cutting marks the commencement of construction of the vessels under the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series, a collaborative project between GRSE and Carsten Rehder. The initial contract for four vessels was signed on June 22, 2024, followed by subsequent agreements bringing the total order to eight vessels. The final contracts, including for the seventh and eighth vessels, were signed on March 24, 2025.
Each MPV is designed with an overall length of 120 metres and a beam of 17 metres, with a draught of 5.85 metres. With a capacity to carry 7,500 metric tonnes of cargo, these vessels are equipped with a single, large cargo hold designed for bulk, general and project cargoes. An innovative feature is the capability to carry containers on hatch covers and multiple large windmill blades on deck – enhancing flexibility in cargo handling.
The project is being developed in close collaboration with German firms including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping. Technical design expertise has been provided by SEDS, in partnership with GRSE and these ships shall be certified by DNV, the classification society. ForestWave will also serve as time-charterer for CORAL STRAIT (Vessel #1) and CADIZ STRAIT (Vessel #5).
Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, spoke about the shipyard’s strides in commercial shipbuilding for global clients and reiterated GRSE’s commitment to quality, innovation, and timely delivery.
In his address, Thomas Rehder, Managing Director of Carsten Rehder mentioned that for the success of any shipbuilding projects, it is crucial to cooperate and closely collaborate. “As shipbrokers and ship owners, Carsten Rader have been involved in many projects in Europe, in Korea, Japan, China. We are now pleased to enter for the first time into a project in India.”
He further added, “I’ve been told that the shipyard has already built and delivered a zero-emission ferry. I’ve also come to know that GRSE is working on several hybrid ferries and this is needed in the future. This is where the future of shipbuilding lies.”
He concluded by stating that working towards a common goal, overcoming difficulties in the interest of shipyard and both the owners shall lead to the joint success of the project.
