India’s Leading Shipyard Signs Rs 840 Crore Deal To Build State-of-the-Art Ocean Research Vessel

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has accomplished a key milestone by securing a contract worth Rs 840 crore with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India.

The agreement signed on July 16, 2024, in Goa, represents a significant step forward in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding) at GRSE, and Shri M M Subramaniam, Scientist I/C, Vessel Operation and Management at NCPOR, signed the agreement in the presence of Dr Thamban Meloth, NCPOR’s Director, and other senior officials from both organizations.

The new ocean research vessel will measure 89.50 meters long, 18.18 meters wide, and 12.50 meters deep.

Its gross tonnage will be 5,900 tons, and its speed will be 14 knots at 90% maximum continuous rating (MCR).

The vessel will operate at depths of up to 6,000 meters.

The ORV will be capable of performing a variety of scientific research and exploration missions, including Underway Swath Multibeam and Geophysical Seismic surveys, Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD) profiling, and biological sampling.

The vessel will conduct surface and deep-sea mooring and data buoy operations, seabed sampling with corers and grabs, and rock dredging with chain bag dredges.

Additional capabilities of the vessel include atmospheric observations, surface meteorological and current measurements, and upper-air data collection.

The ORV will launch and retrieve heavy equipment and submersibles, including Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

Onboard facilities will allow scientists to perform analytical and data processing tasks and provide education and training to scientists and technicians.

GRSE has a long history of manufacturing survey vessels for the Indian Navy, including the Marine Acoustic Research Vessel INS Sagardhwani, which was completed in 1994 and is currently undergoing repair.

In December 2023, GRSE delivered the INS Sandhayak, India’s largest survey vessel, with three more of this type nearing completion.

GRSE is well-positioned to design and build NCPOR’s new ORV with such an extensive experience.

GRSE has emerged as an increasingly preferred location for specialized vessels.

The Bangladeshi government recently contracted GRSE for an advanced tugboat and a dredger, while a German company ordered four multi-purpose cargo vessels.

Additionally, GRSE is building 18 warships for the Indian Navy.

The new contract with NCPOR demonstrates GRSE’s expanding abilities and dedication to supporting India’s maritime research and defense infrastructure, thereby increasing the country’s self-reliance and advancements in ocean exploration.

Reference: GRSE

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