Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), Kolkata, in an impressive ceremony, at their Main Works, laid the keel of the 1st Survey Vessel (Large) (Yard 3025). Shri. Jadav Sarkar, Structural Fitter (SK-II) of GRSE, performed the keel laying in the august presence of Vice Admiral Ajay Kumar Saxena, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition. The occasion was graced by Rear Admiral VK Saxena, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Cmde. P R Hari, Director (Personnel) and Cmde. Sanjeev Nayyar, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding).
This first ship is part of the four Large Survey Vessels order won by GRSE in competitive bidding process in October 2018. The Contract for four Survey Vessel Large (SVL) was signed on 30 Oct 18 between Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Government of India, Ministry of Defence for an order value of Rs. 2435.15 crore. The 1st ship is to be delivered within 36 months from contract signing date with a project completion time of 54 months.
The vessels 110m long with deep displacement of 3300 Tons can accommodate 231 personnel. The vessel shall have a cruising speed of 16 knots. GRSE’s denovo Hull Form Design imparts a superior level of operational efficiency to these vessels. The Hull form of these new generations Survey Vessel also meets the stringent seakeeping and manoeuvring requirements including Helicopter Operations at high sea states. With their State-of-the-Art “Survey Payload” comprising of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Multi Beam Echo Sounders etc, these Survey Ships would prove to be a game changer in the Indian Navy’s Capabilities for Coastal and Deepwater Hydrographic Surveys aiding Maritime Operations. In their secondary role, they will be capable of performing limited search and rescue, limited ocean research and operate as hospital ship/ casualty holding ships.
The design of the ship by GRSE’s in-house Design Unit accorded Centre of Excellence Unit status by Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology will truly signify “Make In India” Initiative of the Govt. of India.
Vessels will be built as per Classification Society Rules and Naval Ship Regulations and will conform to latest MARPOL (Marine Pollution) Standards of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).a
