Reinforcing its commitment to the “Make in India, Make for the World” vision, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Monday laid the keel for the second vessel under its Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) project for Germany-based Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG.
The contract, the largest MPV order in GRSE’s history, underscores the shipyard’s strategic focus on product diversification and its expanding footprint in the global commercial shipbuilding market.
The keel-laying ceremony was attended by Shri M. Venkatesh Murthy, Chief General Manager, CSB, GRSE, and Shri Sujoy Chakravorty, Chief General Manager (Commercial), GRSE, along with senior GRSE officials and representatives from the German shipping company and classification society DNV.
The project entails the design and construction of a modern series of high-performance vessels under the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series. An initial contract for four vessels was signed on June 22, 2024, followed by additional agreements that expanded the order book to twelve vessels. The final contracts, covering the ninth to twelfth Hybrid Propulsion MPVs, were signed on September 19, 2025.
Each MPV will measure 120 metres in overall length with a beam of 17 metres and a draught of 5.85 metres. With a cargo capacity of 7,500 metric tonnes, the vessels feature a single large cargo hold suitable for bulk, general and project cargoes. They are also designed to carry containers on hatch covers and multiple large windmill blades on deck, significantly enhancing operational flexibility.
The project is being executed in close collaboration with German partners including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping. Technical design support is being provided by M/s SEDS in partnership with GRSE, while the vessels will be classed by DNV.
This milestone further strengthens GRSE’s position as a globally competitive shipbuilder and highlights India’s growing capabilities in delivering advanced, export-oriented commercial vessels.
