GRSE Lays Keels for Two Coastal Research Vessels for GSI
The CRVs will support offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration, dredging, ocean-environment monitoring and marine research
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. has laid the keels for two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) being built for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), marking the formal start of physical construction of the specialised vessels.
The keel-laying ceremony was held in Kolkata on Tuesday. Smt. Varsha Ashok Aglawe, Director General, GSI, was the chief guest. Senior officials from GRSE, GSI, TNSL and Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) also attended the event.
The two vessels will measure 64 metres in length and 13 metres in width, with a deadweight tonnage of around 461 tonnes. Designed for an endurance of 15 days and a maximum speed of 10 knots, each vessel will accommodate up to 35 personnel.
The CRVs will support offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration, dredging, ocean-environment monitoring and marine research. They will feature modern scientific laboratories for onboard data processing and sample analysis.
The vessels will also be equipped with Dynamic Positioning-1 (DP-1) capability, allowing them to maintain their position in Sea State 3. Their diesel-electric propulsion system will use diesel generators to power the thrusters. The vessels are designed to operate within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), at water depths ranging from 5 metres to 1,000 metres.
The contract reflects GRSE’s growing capabilities in designing and constructing specialised vessels. The shipyard is currently building an Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, and an Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
GRSE has previously delivered two series of Sandhayak-class survey vessels to the Indian Navy and built the marine acoustic research ship INS Sagardhwani for NPOL, which was delivered in 1994.
The shipyard has also recently received a Notification of Award (NOA) from ONGC for construction of four Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs).
Smt. Varsha Ashok Aglawe said the vessels would strengthen India’s offshore mineral exploration capabilities and support the country’s objective of achieving greater self-reliance in the mineral sector.
GRSE CMD Cmde PR Hari (Retd.) said the keel laying marked the transition from design and planning to physical construction and expressed confidence that the specialised vessels would be delivered to GSI on schedule and to high quality standards.
