Kolkata: Reinforcing its commitment towards Aatmanirbharta and GoI’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd commenced construction of two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) it is building for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), with a ceremonial steel cutting on February 14, 2026.
Asit Saha, Director General, GSI was the chief guest for the ‘Steel Cutting Ceremony’, that was also graced by senior officials from GRSE, GSI, Indian Armed Forces and IRS.
Steel cutting is the ceremonial start of the building process of any ship. The CRVs will be 64 metres long and 13 metres wide. The deadweight tonnage of each CRV will be about 461 Tons. These vessels will have an endurance of 15 days with a top speed of 10 knots. Each ship will have facilities for 35 personnel on board.
These research vessels will have capabilities to carry out offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration (including dredging), ocean environment monitoring and research. They will have modern, well-equipped scientific laboratories on board for data processing and sample analysis. These ships will be fitted with Dynamic Positioning – 1 to enable them to maintain position even in Sea State 3. Powered by diesel-electric propulsion, with diesel generators driving the thrusters, these ships would operate within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India, in depths of 5-1,000 metres.
The order for these CRVs was on recognition of GRSE’s proven excellence in the field of advanced specialised vessels. The shipyard is currently building an Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and an Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), an establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Even while building some of the most advanced warships for the Navy and Coast Guard, GRSE also builds research and survey platforms. Between 1981 and 1993, GRSE delivered six survey vessels to the Navy. In 1994, the shipyard delivered the marine acoustic research ship INS Sagardhwani to NPOL. The ship is still in service. Since 2023, GRSE has delivered three Survey Vessels (Large) to the Navy apart from other warships. These survey vessels are the largest and the most advanced of their class ever built in India.
Director General, Geological Survey of India, Asit Saha, mentioned that these two Coastal vessels are double the size of the existing ones in use and GSI is happy that these vessels will be in use for them for a long period of time. The partnership between GRSE and GSI being stamped on this Valentine’s Day, is a momentous occasion.
Cmde PR Hari spoke on how the shipyard is moving from strength to strength to establish itself globally, in keeping with the government’s “Make in India, Make for the World” vision.
“With four Specialised Research Vessels currently under construction at GRSE, I am happy to state that today, we are the only shipyard building these types of technologically advanced research platforms,” he said.
GRSE, at the moment, is building 12 warships of various classes for the Navy. Apart from the four research platforms, the shipyard is also building eight advanced multi-purpose vessels for a German company and 13 hybrid ferries for the Government of West Bengal. The shipyard is also awaiting the signing of a contract for five of the Navy’s Next Generation Corvettes (NGC) for which it emerged as the lowest bidder.
