In line with India’s aim to become a global shipbuilding hub, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a PSU under the Ministry of Defence, initiated the construction of the third multi-purpose vessel (MPV) for Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG. GRSE is constructing a total of 12 MPVs for this client. While GRSE primarily focuses on warship construction, it has diversified into commercial shipbuilding as part of the government’s “Make in India, Make for the World” initiative.
This order marks the largest commercial vessel contract received by GRSE to date. The ceremony, held on Monday, was attended by senior officials from GRSE and Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG. The project involves the development of high-performance vessels under the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series, a collaborative effort between GRSE and Carsten Rehder.
The contract for four vessels was initially signed on June 22, 2024, with subsequent agreements increasing the order to twelve vessels. The final contracts for the ninth to twelfth Hybrid Propulsion MPVs were signed on September 19, 2025. Each MPV will have an overall length of 120 meters, a beam of 17 meters, and a draught of 5.85 meters. These vessels are designed to carry 7,500 metric tonnes of cargo and feature a single, large cargo hold suitable for various types of cargo.
Notably, the vessels can transport containers on hatch covers and multiple large windmill blades on deck, enhancing operational flexibility. The project involves collaboration with German companies like F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte and Bruns, and Delft Shipping. Technical design support is provided by Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) in partnership with GRSE. The ships will be certified by the classification society Det Norske Veritas.
