Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, a key Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU), marked a significant step in the construction of ‘Next Generation’ warships on November 5 by laying the keels of the first two Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs). GRSE has been commissioned to build four advanced vessels for the Indian Navy. The first NGOPV is slated for delivery in 44 months, with subsequent vessels to follow at six-month intervals, according to GRSE.
Cmde P R Hari (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, highlighted that while the keel-laying ceremony was conducted for the first two vessels, work on all four vessels is already underway.
“We are currently working on 43 platforms, including 17 warships for the Indian Navy. These 17 warships include the four NGOPVs. We are also handling eight export orders. These include a warship and two other platforms for Bangladesh. To date, we have delivered 72 warships to the Indian Navy and 36 to the Indian Coast Guard,” he said.
He added that GRSE is also manufacturing an oceanographic research vessel for the Ministry of Earth Sciences, an acoustic research vessel for the DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), and an autonomous platform for the DRDO’s Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL). Additionally, GRSE is executing two export orders for Bangladesh and building five multipurpose vessels for a German client.
GRSE shifts gear to Next Generation Warship mode, lays keels of first two NGOPVs
Kolkata (05 Nov 2024): Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd formally stepped into the realm of construction of ‘Next Generation’ warships on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024, by laying the… pic.twitter.com/HJKVx1d7hK
— GRSE – Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (@OfficialGRSE) November 5, 2024
In the past, GRSE has built and delivered several Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. The NGOPVs will be much larger warships than the OPVs built earlier, and have greater endurance and firepower. These platforms will be about 113 metres long and 14.6 metres wide, with a displacement of 3,000 Tons. The NGOPVs will achieve speeds of up to 23 knots. Their endurance will be 8,500 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots. The crew will comprise 24 officers and over 100 sailors. The NGOPVs will play a variety of roles.
In the past, GRSE has successfully built and delivered numerous Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. However, the new Next-Generation OPVs (NGOPVs) represent a major advancement, offering significantly greater size, endurance, and firepower compared to their predecessors.
According to GRSE, these NGOPVs will measure approximately 113 meters in length and 14.6 meters in width and have a displacement of around 3,000 tons. These advanced warships are designed to reach speeds of up to 23 knots, with an impressive operational range of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots. Each vessel will accommodate a crew of 24 officers and over 100 sailors.
The versatile NGOPVs are designed to perform a broad spectrum of missions, bolstering the Navy’s ability to safeguard maritime interests and adapt to evolving defence demands. GRSE states these advanced warships will be deployed for ‘Out of Area’ contingency operations, non-combatant evacuation, convoy escort missions, anti-piracy patrols, and counter-infiltration operations.
Team BharatShakti
