New Delhi: Public sector defence shipyard Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited marked a significant milestone on April 24 with the keel laying of the fourth Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) being built for the Indian Navy. The ceremony, held at GRSE’s facility in Kolkata, saw the presence of Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM, CWP&A, Indian Navy, as the Chief Guest.
On the occasion GRSE's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) 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 other senior officials from the Navy and GRSE were also present.
The event underscored GRSE’s commitment to meeting delivery schedules and enhancing the Indian Navy’s maritime capabilities through indigenous design and advanced shipbuilding technologies. GRSE is currently constructing four NGOPVs as part of its ongoing engagements with the Indian Navy.
Vice Admiral Swaminathan commended GRSE’s progress across projects, stating, “We are very, very happy to note that GRSE has really ramped up and picked up pace in moving all the projects ahead—be it Survey Vessel Large, ASW Shallow Water Crafts, or the OPVs, which are actually moving at breakneck speed.” He also acknowledged the shipyard’s focus on capacity expansion and development of niche technology solutions such as unmanned vessels.
GRSE’s adoption of modular construction technology has enabled efficient shipbuilding, allowing for faster and more systematic assembly of large naval platforms. The shipyard is currently working on 40 platforms, of which 17 are for the Indian Navy. Notably, the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs) is ready for delivery, and both the INS Himgiri—an advanced frigate—and the second ASW SWC have successfully completed sea trials.
The NGOPVs, once delivered, will offer superior operational capabilities compared to earlier OPVs. These 113-metre-long vessels will displace around 3,000 tons and reach speeds of up to 23 knots. With an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots, each vessel will carry 24 officers and over 100 sailors.
Designed for multifaceted roles, the NGOPVs will be equipped for coastal surveillance, maritime interdiction, visit-board-search-seizure (VBSS) operations, mine warfare, and special operations support. They will also participate in contingency missions, anti-piracy patrols, non-combatant evacuation, and humanitarian relief efforts. With additional capability to function as hospital and communications intelligence (COMINT) ships, the vessels will also serve as a valuable asset for fleet maintenance and logistical support.
Reflecting on the occasion, Cmde PR Hari highlighted GRSE’s transformation into a Schedule ‘A’ company and expressed optimism about securing further orders for next-generation platforms. He emphasized GRSE’s legacy and proven expertise in building Offshore Patrol Vessels, recalling the Defence Minister’s Award for in-house design efforts on the OPV MCGS Barracuda—the first Indian warship exported to Mauritius in 2014.
With this latest keel laying, GRSE continues to reinforce its position as a key contributor to India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and a strategic partner to the Indian Navy.
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