Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has launched the 89.50-metre Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) ‘Sagar Manthan’ being built for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Ministry of Earth Sciences.
The vessel was launched at GRSE’s Rishi Bankim Shipyard in Kolkata, barely five months after keel laying, highlighting the shipyard’s ability to achieve project milestones ahead of schedule. Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, was the Chief Guest, while Dr Srinivasa Kumar Tummala, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, was the Guest of Honour.
With a gross tonnage of 5,900 tonnes and a speed of 14 knots, Sagar Manthan will support advanced ocean research, including multibeam and seismic surveys, CTD profiling, biological and seabed sampling, deep-sea mooring, data buoy operations, meteorological observations and ocean-current measurements at depths of up to 6 km.
The vessel is being constructed under the Government’s Deep Ocean Mission and is expected to significantly strengthen India’s indigenous ocean research and exploration capabilities.
GRSE CMD Cmde PR Hari (Retd.) said the shipyard, which has extensive experience in specialised survey vessels, now epitomises Atmanirbharta in the design and construction of warships and research vessels.
GRSE is also building an Acoustic Research Ship for NPOL and two Coastal Research Vessels for the Geological Survey of India, further strengthening its position in specialised research vessel construction.