New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Monday laid the keel for the second vessel under its Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project, being executed for Germany-based Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG.
The contract, the largest MPV order in GRSE’s history, marks the company’s strategy to diversify its product portfolio and expand its presence in international markets, in line with the Government of India’s “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative.
The keel-laying ceremony, held on December 29, was attended by M Venkatesh Murthy, Chief General Manager (CSB), GRSE, and Sujoy Chakravorty, Chief General Manager (Commercial), GRSE, along with senior officials from the shipyard and representatives of the German shipping firm and classification society DNV.
The project involves the design and construction of a modern series of high-performance vessels under the CORAL 7,500 DWT MPV series. GRSE had initially signed a contract for four vessels on June 22, 2024, which was subsequently expanded to a total of twelve vessels. The final set of contracts, covering the ninth to twelfth hybrid propulsion MPVs, was signed on September 19, 2025.
Each MPV will measure 120 metres in length with a beam of 17 metres and a draught of 5.85 metres. Designed to carry up to 7,500 metric tonnes of cargo, the vessels will feature a single large cargo hold suitable for bulk, general and project cargo. They will also be capable of carrying containers on hatch covers and multiple large windmill blades on deck, enhancing operational flexibility.
The project is being executed in close collaboration with several German firms, including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns and Delft Shipping, while technical design support is being provided by SEDS in partnership with GRSE. The vessels will be certified by DNV.
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