Kolkata/Hamburg, Germany: Reinforcing its commitment to the vision of “Make in India, Make for World,” Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd signed a contract on Friday, September 19, 2025, with Germany’s Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co. KG in Hamburg, Germany, for the for the construction of four Hybrid Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) at a total value of USD 62.44 million.
This agreement represents a natural extension of the successful partnership between GRSE and Carsten Rehder, following the ongoing 7,500 DWT Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project currently under execution in Kolkata.
GRSE has ventured into construction of these four (04) Hybrid Propulsion MPVs with a provision of additional two (02) vessels of Hybrid propulsion type. This milestone underscores the shipyard’s expanding global footprint in commercial & green shipbuilding.
The contract was signed between Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE and Thomas Rehder, Managing Director, Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co. KG. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both organisations, underscoring the spirit of cooperation and long-term partnership between GRSE and Carsten Rehder.
The newly contracted Hybrid MPVs will incorporate state-of-the-art battery-assisted hybrid propulsion systems, enhanced fuel efficiency, and flexible cargo handling capabilities, making them well-aligned with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) decarbonisation goals.
These MPVs will be 120 metres long and 17 metres wide, with a maximum draft of 6.75 metres. The vessels are designed to carry 7,500 metric tonnes of cargo in a single large cargo hold, capable of accommodating bulk, general, and project cargoes. Containers can also be carried on hatch covers. A unique design feature of these ships is their ability to transport multiple large windmill blades on deck, catering specifically to the growing renewable energy logistics sector.
The MPV program had commenced with an initial contract for four vessels signed in June 2024, followed by further agreements in September 2024, December 2024 and March 2025 that took the total to eight vessels. On April 17, 2025, GRSE commenced steel cutting for this prestigious project, formally beginning construction of the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series, GRSE’s first major international export order in the commercial vessel segment.
