New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a Navratna Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, has launched the 89.5-metre Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) ‘Sagar Manthan’, being built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The vessel was launched at GRSE’s Rishi Bankim Shipyard in Kolkata on Wednesday, marking another milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding and ocean research capabilities. The launch took place barely five months after the keel laying of the vessel, underscoring GRSE’s ability to accelerate project execution.
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Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, was the chief guest at the launch, while Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, attended as the guest of honour.
The ORV has been named ‘Sagar Manthan’ by Manju Singh, wife of Dr Jitendra Singh. The vessel was launched by Kavita Ellanti, wife of Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala.
The 89.50-metre-long and 18.80-metre-wide research vessel will have a gross tonnage of approximately 5,900 tonnes and a maximum speed of 14 knots at 90 percent maximum continuous rating.
Once delivered, Sagar Manthan will be equipped to undertake advanced oceanographic and geophysical surveys in coastal waters as well as deep seas, including operations at depths of up to 6 km.
The vessel will undertake underway swath multibeam and geophysical seismic surveys, along with Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) profiling and water sampling. It will also support biological sampling using vertical and horizontal nets.
The vessel has been designed to undertake surface and deep-sea mooring and data buoy operations, seabed sampling using corers and grabs, and rock dredging using chain-bag dredges.
Sagar Manthan will also facilitate atmospheric observations, surface meteorological and current measurements, and collection of upper-air data. Scientists will be able to undertake analytical work and data processing onboard, while the vessel will also serve as a platform for training and education of scientists and technicians.
The construction of Sagar Manthan strengthens GRSE’s capabilities in specialised research vessels, building on its nearly four decades of experience in survey vessel construction for the Indian Navy.
GRSE delivered survey ships to the Navy in the 1980s and subsequently built the Marine Acoustic Research Vessel INS Sagardhwani for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) in 1994. The vessel remains in service and recently underwent a refit at GRSE.
The shipyard has also completed delivery of four Survey Vessels (Large) to the Indian Navy. The latest, INS Sanshodhak, was delivered on March 30, 2026. These vessels are the largest survey ships built in India and operated by the Navy.
In addition to Sagar Manthan, GRSE is currently building an Acoustic Research Ship for NPOL and two Coastal Research Vessels for the Geological Survey of India.
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GRSE currently has nine warships under construction, comprising an advanced guided missile frigate under Project 17A, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWCs) and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels.
The shipyard is also building 32 additional platforms, including 13 ships for export. It is further in the advanced stages of concluding a contract for the construction of five Next Generation Corvettes for the Indian Navy.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the vessel represents the growing strength of India’s indigenous shipbuilding, engineering and scientific capabilities.
Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala said the vessel is being constructed under the government’s Deep Ocean Mission, and called upon NCPOR and GRSE to maintain the pace of construction while assuring the Ministry’s support.
Cmde PR Hari (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, said the shipyard’s expertise now extends beyond warship building to the indigenous design and construction of specialised research vessels, reflecting its commitment to Atmanirbharta in advanced shipbuilding.
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