The keel of Yard 3040, the fourth Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) being constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), was laid on April 24, 2025, at the shipyard in Kolkata. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, who attended as the Chief Guest. Also present were senior leadership from GRSE and the Indian Navy, including Cmde P.R. Hari (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE.
This event represents a key milestone in India’s initiative to enhance indigenous shipbuilding capabilities. The contract for the construction of eleven NGOPVs was signed on March 30, 2023, with Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and GRSE.
Of these, GSL will build seven vessels as the lead shipyard, while GRSE will deliver four as the follow shipyard. These vessels, each with a displacement of approximately 3,000 tonnes, are designed for multiple roles, including coastal defense, offshore asset protection, anti-piracy operations, surveillance, and humanitarian missions.
GRSE continues to demonstrate steady progress in naval shipbuilding by adopting modular construction methods, allowing various sections of the ship to be built separately and assembled efficiently. This approach has contributed to timely delivery across several ongoing projects.
Currently, GRSE is building 40 platforms, including 17 for the Indian Navy. Notable achievements include the near-completion of the first of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) and the successful sea trials of INS Himgiri and another ASW SWC vessel.
GRSE’s experience in constructing Offshore Patrol Vessels is well recognized. The shipyard previously received the Defence Minister’s Award of Excellence for in-house design of the OPV MCGS Barracuda, which was India’s first warship export to Mauritius in 2014.
The new NGOPVs represent a significant advancement over earlier OPVs, offering improved range, speed, and mission versatility. With a length of 113 meters and a beam of 14.6 meters, these vessels will achieve speeds up to 23 knots and cover 8,500 nautical miles at cruising speed. They are equipped to carry 24 officers and over 100 sailors and are capable of operating in both coastal and deep-sea environments.
In addition to conventional defense roles, these ships will support maritime law enforcement, anti-infiltration, non-combatant evacuation, disaster response, and special operations. They are expected to enhance the Indian Navy’s operational readiness and support the national goal of self-reliance in defense manufacturing under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives.
