New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited marked a significant milestone on Thursday with the ceremonial steel-cutting for the first of eight Multipurpose Vessels (MPVs) being built for German shipping company Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG. This marks GRSE’s first major export order for MPVs, signalling its growing presence in the global commercial shipbuilding sector.
The event was held at GRSE’s shipyard in Kolkata and was attended by key dignitaries including Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, and Thomas Rehder, Managing Director, Carsten Rehder. Also present were RK Dash, Director (Finance), Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG (Retd), Director (Personnel), Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO, along with senior officials from GRSE and representatives from the German firm.
The steel-cutting marks the official commencement of construction for the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series. The collaboration between GRSE and Carsten Rehder began with an initial contract for four vessels signed on June 22, 2024. With subsequent agreements, the total order was expanded to eight vessels, the latest of which were finalised on March 24.
Each vessel under this series will be 120 metres long, 17 metres wide, and have a draught of 5.85 metres. With a cargo capacity of 7,500 metric tonnes, the vessels feature a single large cargo hold capable of accommodating bulk, general, and project cargoes. They are also equipped to carry containers on hatch covers and transport multiple large windmill blades on deck, offering enhanced flexibility for diverse cargo requirements.
The project is being developed in close coordination with several German firms, including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping. Design support is being provided by M/s SEDS in partnership with GRSE, while classification and certification will be overseen by DNV. Additionally, ForestWave will serve as the time-charterer for two vessels in the series — CORAL STRAIT (Vessel #1) and CADIZ STRAIT (Vessel #5).
Speaking at the event, Cmde PR Hari highlighted the significance of this project in GRSE’s journey to becoming a global player in the commercial shipbuilding industry. He reaffirmed the shipyard’s commitment to quality, innovation, and timely project delivery.
Rehder emphasized the importance of close cooperation in successful shipbuilding partnerships. “As shipbrokers and ship owners, Carsten Rehder has been involved in many projects across Europe, Korea, Japan, and China. We are now pleased to enter, for the first time, into a project in India,” he said.
He commended GRSE’s efforts in innovation, citing the shipyard’s work on zero-emission and hybrid ferries as key steps towards the future of sustainable shipbuilding. “This is where the future of shipbuilding lies,” he noted, expressing optimism for the successful execution of the project through joint collaboration.
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)