GRSE commences production of two Coastal Research Vessels.
Steel cutting is the ceremonial start of the building process of any ship. The CRVs will be 64 meters long and 13 meters wide. The deadweight tonnage of each CRV will be about 461 Tons. These vessels will have an endurance of 15 days with a top speed of 10 knots. Each ship will have facilities for 35 personnel on board.
These research vessels will have capabilities to carry out offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration (including dredging), ocean environment monitoring and research. They will have modern, well-equipped scientific laboratories on board for data processing and sample analysis. These ships will be fitted with Dynamic Positioning – 1 to enable them to maintain position even in Sea State 3. Powered by diesel-electric propulsion, with diesel generators driving the thrusters, these ships would operate within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India, in depths of 5-1,000 meters.
The order for these CRVs was on recognition of GRSE's proven excellence in the field of advanced specialised vessels. The shipyard is currently building an Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, and an Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), an establishment under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).