Kolkata/Hamburg: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has signed two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with global maritime companies to expand its technological capabilities and strengthen India’s maritime and defence shipbuilding ecosystem.
The MoUs were signed during the SMM Hamburg Maritime Trade Fair in Germany. GRSE signed an MoU with DNV (Det Norske Veritas) on September 2, bringing together the shipbuilder’s expertise in warship design, shipbuilding and marine engineering with DNV’s global capabilities in maritime classification, certification, technical assurance, digitalisation and sustainability.
GRSE also signed an MoU with Damen Technical Cooperation B.V., Netherlands, to explore technical and business cooperation for the design and construction of advanced dredgers in India.
GRSE and DNV Partner on Advanced Shipbuilding Technologies
The partnership with DNV aims to strengthen GRSE’s capabilities in technologically advanced shipbuilding and maritime engineering.
Under the MoU, both organisations will explore cooperation in several areas, including:
- Advanced warships and specialised vessels
- Green shipping and sustainable technologies
- Digital shipbuilding, AI and Industry 4.0
- Skill development and technical training
- Knowledge exchange and capacity building
The collaboration combines GRSE’s established capabilities in defence shipbuilding with DNV’s international expertise in classification, certification, technical assurance, digitalisation, sustainability and maritime advisory services.
Read also: GRSE Pays ₹147.77 Crore Interim Dividend for FY26; Government Gets ₹110.09 Crore
MoU to Strengthen Green and Digital Shipbuilding
The DNV partnership is expected to support GRSE’s adoption of green technologies and advanced digital shipbuilding practices.
The cooperation will also help enhance capabilities related to artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and digitalisation, areas that are increasingly important for modern ship design and construction.
The collaboration is aimed at contributing to India’s ability to undertake technologically sophisticated defence as well as commercial shipbuilding projects.
GRSE Signs MoU with Damen for Dredger Construction
GRSE has also entered into an MoU with Damen Technical Cooperation B.V. of the Netherlands to explore opportunities in the design and construction of advanced dredgers for Indian customers.
The agreement seeks to establish a technical and business collaboration framework that can support the development of indigenous dredger-building capabilities in India.
The key areas of cooperation include:
- Advanced dredger design and technology
- Transfer of technical know-how
- Joint design and construction proposals
- Development of indigenous dredger-building capabilities
- Long-term cooperation for future dredging requirements
The collaboration with Damen is expected to help GRSE explore new opportunities in the dredger segment and strengthen domestic capabilities in specialised vessel construction.
Partnership to Support Indigenous Dredger-Building Capabilities
The proposed cooperation with Damen is expected to provide GRSE with access to technical expertise and support the development of advanced dredgers in India. By exploring joint design and construction opportunities, the partnership aims to strengthen domestic capabilities and contribute to the country’s future dredging requirements.
GRSE Expands Global Maritime Partnerships
The two MoUs signed at SMM Hamburg represent GRSE’s efforts to expand its international technological partnerships while strengthening its domestic shipbuilding capabilities. The collaborations with DNV and Damen cover both defence and commercial maritime applications, ranging from advanced warships and specialised vessels to green technologies and dredgers.
Together, the partnerships are expected to support innovation, sustainability, digitalisation, knowledge exchange and greater self-reliance in India’s maritime and defence shipbuilding sector.
About GRSE
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) is a government company and a public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Headquartered in Kolkata, GRSE is one of India’s leading shipbuilders and primarily builds warships and other vessels for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
Read also: GRSE Wins ‘GeM Advocate’ Award for Driving Transparent and Efficient Digital Procurement
