New Delhi: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a Navratna defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, laid the keel for the fifth Multi-Purpose Vessel for Germany’s Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG on 29 October 2026.
The milestone marks progress in GRSE’s commercial shipbuilding export programme and supports its focus on expanding India’s shipbuilding presence in international markets under the vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
Largest Commercial Shipbuilding Export Order
The project covers the design and construction of 12 CORAL 7500 deadweight tonnage (DWT) multi-purpose vessels. It is GRSE’s largest commercial shipbuilding export order and reflects its efforts to diversify its portfolio and strengthen its position in the global maritime sector.
The first contract, signed in June 2024, covered four vessels. A second contract, signed in October 2024, covered another four vessels, with the fifth vessel marking the first under this contract. A third contract, signed in September 2025, added four hybrid-propulsion vessels, taking the total order to 12.
Senior officials from GRSE, Carsten Rehder, and classification society DNV attended the keel-laying ceremony.
Vessel Specifications and Capabilities
Each vessel will measure 120 metres in length, with a beam of 17 metres and a draught of 5.85 metres. Each will have a deadweight capacity of 7,500 tonnes.
Designed for flexible cargo operations, the vessels will feature a large cargo hold for bulk, general and project cargo. They will also be capable of carrying containers on hatch covers and multiple wind turbine blades on deck.
International Collaboration
The project involves collaboration with German maritime companies, including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping.
Technical design support is being provided by SEDS in association with GRSE, while DNV will handle vessel classification and certification.
The project strengthens GRSE’s commercial shipbuilding portfolio and highlights the role of Indian shipyards in meeting international maritime requirements.
