New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited laid the keel for the third Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) being built for the Indian Navy on Friday. The ceremony, held at GRSE’s shipyard in Kolkata, marked a key milestone in the shipbuilding project, reinforcing the shipyard’s commitment to delivering platforms on schedule.
The keel-laying was conducted in the presence of the Ministry of Defence's Financial Adviser (Defence Services) SG Dastidar, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Also present were senior GRSE officials including the Chairman and Managing Director Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd); Director (Finance) RK Dash; Director (Shipbuilding) Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd); Director (Personnel) DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG (Retd); Chief Vigilance Officer Abhishek Ranjan (IOFS) and senior officials from the Indian Navy.
GRSE is constructing four NGOPVs for the Indian Navy. The keel-laying of two vessels has already been completed, and construction of the fourth has begun, thanks to GRSE’s adoption of modern modular shipbuilding technology. This method enables various sections of the ship to be built simultaneously in blocks and assembled later, thereby saving time and improving efficiency.
At present, GRSE is building 40 platforms, of which 17 are for the Indian Navy. Notably, the first ship in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) is ready for delivery, while the second ASWSWC and INS Himgiri, a guided missile frigate, have successfully completed sea trials.
The NGOPVs are designed to be significantly more advanced than previous patrol vessels. Each vessel will measure approximately 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, with a displacement of around 3,000 tons. Capable of reaching speeds up to 23 knots, these vessels will have an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots. They will be manned by 24 officers and over 100 sailors.
The vessels are built for a wide range of missions including coastal defence, maritime interdiction, anti-piracy, convoy escort, special operations support, and humanitarian assistance. With a draught of just 4 metres, they will be highly manoeuvrable in shallow waters, allowing them to protect offshore assets and conduct search and rescue operations. Additionally, they are equipped to function as hospital ships and provide fleet maintenance and communications intelligence (COMINT) support.
Speaking at the event, Dastidar praised GRSE’s role in advancing India’s shipbuilding capabilities. “This Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel is among the most advanced of its kind globally. It is a matter of national pride that an Indian shipyard can now design and construct such complex platforms,” he said.
Cmde PR Hari highlighted the company’s record turnover in FY 2024-25 and said that the upcoming year will be significant for GRSE, with several ship deliveries planned across multiple naval projects, including P17A frigates, survey vessels, and ASW SWCs.
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