Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), a leading defence public sector undertaking, announced a major achievement on June 11, 2025, with the signing of a significant contract for the construction of two Coastal Research Vessels (CRVs) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The contract was signed by Commander Shantanu Bose, Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, and Dr. N. M. Shareef, Deputy Director General and Head of the Marine & Coastal Survey Division, GSI, in the presence of Shri Asit Saha, Director General of GSI, and other senior officials from both organizations.
These new CRVs will strengthen India’s marine geological research capabilities. Each vessel will be 64 meters long and 12 meters wide, with a deadweight tonnage of around 450 tons. They will be capable of operating for up to 15 days at sea with a maximum speed of 10 knots and accommodation for 35 personnel. The ships are designed to conduct offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration, ocean environmental monitoring, and research. To support these operations, the vessels will be equipped with advanced scientific laboratories for data processing and sample analysis.
The ships will feature Dynamic Positioning – 1 technology, allowing them to maintain precise positioning even in Sea State 3 conditions. They will be powered by diesel-electric propulsion, using diesel generators to drive thrusters, and are intended to operate within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), in waters ranging from 5 to 1,000 meters deep.
This contract further reinforces GRSE’s credentials in building specialized research vessels. The shipyard is already constructing an Ocean Research Vessel for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and an Acoustic Research Ship for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), under DRDO. GRSE has a longstanding history in this domain, having delivered INS Sagardhwani to NPOL in 1994, six survey vessels to the Navy between 1981 and 1993, and more recently, two Sandhayak-class Survey Vessels (Large), with two more under construction.
Though best known for its warship-building expertise, GRSE has also expanded its commercial shipbuilding operations. It is currently constructing 16 warships of four classes for the Indian Navy and has emerged as the lowest bidder for the Navy’s Next Generation Corvettes (NGC) programme, which includes five vessels. Additionally, the shipyard is building eight multi-purpose cargo ships for a German client.
Despite this positive development and a strong pipeline of projects, GRSE’s shares were trading 5 percent lower at Rs 3080 on June 11, 2025. This dip comes amidst broader market volatility and investor profit-booking after recent rallies in defence stocks.
Established in 1884 and taken over by the Indian government in 1960, GRSE has built a stellar track record. It was the first Indian shipyard to build a warship for the Indian Navy, the INS Ajay, and has delivered 800 platforms including 111 warships to the Navy, Coast Guard, and international clients. It also built India’s first export warship, CGS Barracuda, for Mauritius. With a strong engineering division, four distinct shipyards, and infrastructure that allows for concurrent construction of 28 ships, GRSE continues its pursuit of excellence in both defence and commercial shipbuilding.
The latest CRV contract marks yet another step forward for GRSE in its mission to support India’s maritime capabilities, even as the market reflects short-term sentiment fluctuations.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Please consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
