Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) has signed a contract worth USD 62.44 million with Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co KG of Germany for the construction of four Hybrid Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs). The agreement, signed in Hamburg, builds on the ongoing 7,500 DWT MPV project being executed in Kolkata and includes an option for two additional vessels of similar hybrid propulsion design.
The deal was formalized between Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, and Thomas Rehder, Managing Director, Carsten Rehder, in the presence of senior representatives from both organizations. These new Hybrid MPVs, equipped with advanced battery-assisted propulsion systems, will offer improved fuel efficiency, cargo versatility, and compliance with IMO decarbonization targets.
Each vessel will be 120 metres long, 17 metres wide, with a draft of 6.75 metres, capable of carrying 7,500 tonnes of bulk, project, or general cargo in a single large hold, as well as containers on hatch covers. A standout feature is their ability to transport large windmill blades on deck, aligning with global renewable energy logistics requirements.
This contract follows a series of agreements since June 2024 that together form the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV programme—GRSE’s first major international export initiative in the commercial vessel category. Steel cutting for the series began in April 2025 in Kolkata.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, traces its origins to 1884 and became a Government of India enterprise in 1960. GRSE has delivered over 800 platforms, including 114 warships—more than any other Indian shipyard—for the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and overseas clients. Notable exports include CGS Barracuda for Mauritius, SCG PS Zoroaster for Seychelles, and MV Ma Lisha for Guyana.
As the first shipyard in independent India to build a warship, GRSE has also diversified into engineering solutions such as pre-fabricated steel bridges, deck machinery, marine engine overhaul, and naval guns. The shipyard operates four distinct facilities and can construct 28 ships simultaneously. Recognized with multiple national awards for design and performance, GRSE continues to modernize its infrastructure and strengthen its position as a leader in both defence and commercial shipbuilding.
