New Delhi: The Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) has laid the keel of the fifth Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) being built for Germany-based Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG, marking further progress in its largest commercial shipbuilding export project.
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The keel-laying ceremony was held on Thursday in the presence of senior officials from GRSE, Carsten Rehder and classification society DNV.
The project involves the design and construction of 12 CORAL 7500 deadweight tonne (DWT) multi-purpose vessels. The first contract, signed in June 2024, covered four vessels, while a second contract signed in October 2024 covered another four. The third contract, signed in September 2025, covers four additional vessels equipped with hybrid propulsion systems.
The fifth vessel is the first to be built under the second contract, taking the programme into its next phase.
The export order highlights GRSE's growing presence in the international commercial shipbuilding market and its efforts to diversify its portfolio beyond defence shipbuilding. It also aligns with India's 'Make in India, Make for the World' initiative.
Each vessel will measure 120 metres in length, with a beam of 17 metres and a draught of 5.85 metres. With a deadweight capacity of 7,500 tonnes, the vessels are designed to transport a range of cargo, including bulk commodities, general cargo and project cargo.
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The vessels will feature a large cargo hold and will also be capable of carrying containers on hatch covers and multiple wind turbine blades on deck, offering flexibility for different cargo transportation requirements.
The project involves collaboration with German maritime companies F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping. Technical design support is being provided by SEDS in association with GRSE, while DNV will undertake vessel classification and certification.
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