New Delhi/Kolkata: In a significant boost to India’s maritime research and defence capabilities, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has commenced construction of a state-of-the-art Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a premier establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The keel-laying ceremony, held at GRSE’s shipbuilding facility in Kolkata on Wednesday, marked a key milestone in the strategic partnership between GRSE and DRDO. The event was graced by Dr Sameer V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman, DRDO, as the Chief Guest. Also in attendance were Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, senior officials from DRDO, NPOL, and the shipyard.
The ARS, designed to support cutting-edge underwater research and acoustic trials, is being built under a contract signed between GRSE and NPOL in October 2024. With a length of 93 metres and a beam of 18 metres, the vessel will accommodate up to 120 personnel and reach speeds between 4 and 12 knots. At maximum speed, it will be capable of covering 4,500 nautical miles or operating at sea for up to 30 days.
The ship’s capabilities will include deployment, towing, and retrieval of acoustic equipment, conducting high-resolution surveys of sound velocity profiles, collecting data on ocean tides and currents, and designing underwater moorings. It will also conduct meteorological and shallow water acoustic studies, and operate buoys for data collection. Notably, the ARS will be equipped with a dynamic positioning system and diesel-electric propulsion, enhancing its operational precision and efficiency in challenging sea conditions.
Commenting on the development, Dr Sameer V Kamat said, “An acoustic research ship is going to be very critical for us to build our underwater domain awareness capability. This ship is a successor to our Sagardhwani, which was also built by GRSE and has served us very well for over 30 years.”
Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), CMD of GRSE, added, “This is a momentous occasion as we launch ourselves into another prestigious project for our defence establishment. As a fully diversified shipyard, we have built everything from complex warships to specialized research and commercial vessels.”
GRSE’s track record in building research and survey vessels is well established. The shipyard had earlier delivered the first series of Sandhayak-class survey vessels in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the INS Sagardhwani in 1994, which continues to be operational. More recently, GRSE delivered the INS Sandhayak and INS Nirdeshak—first two vessels in the second series of Sandhayak-class survey vessels—to the Indian Navy in 2023 and 2024.
In July 2024, GRSE also signed a contract with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, to construct an advanced Ocean Research Vessel, further underlining the shipyard’s growing role in India’s marine research ecosystem.
The commencement of this ARS project signals another forward stride in India’s pursuit of technological self-reliance in defence and oceanographic research.
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