Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. on 29 October 2026 laid the keel of the fifth Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) being constructed for Germany's Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co. KG, marking steady progress on one of the Kolkata-based shipyard's most significant international commercial contracts. The milestone underlines India's growing credibility as a global shipbuilding hub under the 'Make in India, Make for the World' initiative.

Scope of the Export Order

GRSE, a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, is building a total of 12 CORAL 7500 DWT Multi-Purpose Vessels for Carsten Rehder under three separate contracts. The first contract, signed in June 2024, covered four vessels; the second, signed in October 2024, covered another four — of which the fifth vessel is the first. A third contract, signed in September 2025, added four hybrid-propulsion MPVs, bringing the cumulative order to twelve.

According to an official statement, this represents 'the largest commercial shipbuilding export order secured by GRSE', reflecting the shipyard's expanding footprint in the international market. The keel-laying ceremony was attended by senior officials from GRSE, Carsten Rehder, and classification society DNV.

Technical Specifications and Design

Each vessel will measure 120 metres in length and 17 metres in width, with a deadweight of 7,500 tonnes and a draught of 5.85 metres. Designed for operational versatility, the MPVs will feature a large cargo hold capable of accommodating bulk, general, and project cargo. Their design also permits the carriage of containers on hatch covers and multiple wind turbine blades on deck — a notable feature that positions them squarely within the growing renewable-energy logistics market.

Technical design support is being provided by M/s SEDS in association with GRSE, while DNV will handle classification and certification. The project involves collaboration with several leading German maritime companies, including F H Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping.

GRSE's Export Legacy and Broader Capabilities

This is not GRSE's first foray into export shipbuilding. The shipyard previously delivered the first-ever Indian export warship, CGS Barracuda, to the Government of Mauritius; a Fast Patrol Vessel, SCG PS Zoroaster, to Seychelles; and an ocean-going cargo and passenger ferry, MV Ma Lisha, to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Over its 66-year history, GRSE has built more than 800 platforms, including 118 warships for the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations — the highest number built and delivered by any Indian shipyard. Its portfolio spans frigates, corvettes, fleet tankers, landing ship tanks, survey vessels, offshore patrol vessels, and fast attack craft.

Strategic Significance for India's Defence Industry

The MPV project arrives at a time when India is actively seeking to grow its defence and commercial shipbuilding exports, with the government setting ambitious targets for the sector. GRSE's diversification into commercial vessels — including its market-leading position in Bailey-type modular steel bridges and its ongoing production of 30 mm Naval Surface Guns — signals a broader strategic pivot beyond pure naval contracting.

Notably, the inclusion of hybrid-propulsion variants in the third contract reflects a global shift toward greener maritime logistics, suggesting GRSE is positioning itself for future-generation export orders. With eight more vessels still to be delivered, the project will remain a key benchmark for India's commercial shipbuilding ambitions through the latter half of the decade.