Kolkata-based defence public sector shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has laid the keel for the fourth vessel being built under its multi-purpose vessel (MPV) project for a German client, marking another significant milestone in the execution of one of its key international shipbuilding contracts.
The keel-laying ceremony signals the commencement of the vessel’s hull construction and reflects the steady progress of the MPV programme, which is being undertaken for overseas markets. The project highlights GRSE’s growing capabilities in commercial shipbuilding and its increasing presence in the global maritime sector beyond its traditional defence portfolio.
The series of multi-purpose vessels is designed to support a range of cargo transportation requirements, offering operational flexibility and efficiency for international shipping operators. Successful execution of the contract is expected to further strengthen the shipyard’s reputation as a reliable builder of technologically advanced and high-quality vessels for global customers.
GRSE has been actively expanding its export footprint, securing international orders that showcase the competitiveness of Indian shipbuilding capabilities. The German MPV project is viewed as an important step in enhancing India’s standing in the global shipbuilding market and demonstrating the ability of domestic yards to deliver complex vessels to international standards.
With construction progressing across multiple vessels in the series, the latest keel-laying milestone underscores GRSE’s commitment to timely project execution and reinforces its strategy of diversifying into export-oriented commercial shipbuilding alongside its core defense manufacturing activities.