Kolkata: In a significant step towards enhancing India’s maritime research capabilities and strengthening indigenous shipbuilding, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd laid the keel for an advanced Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) being built for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The keel-laying ceremony was graced by Dr Sameer V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) and Chairman, DRDO, as the Chief Guest. The event was attended by several senior officials, including Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, and Dr D Seshagiri, OS & Director, NPOL.
Advanced Research Ship to Feature Cutting-edge Technology
The contract for the ARS was signed between GRSE and NPOL in October 2024. Measuring 93 metres in length and 18 metres in width, the ARS is designed to be a highly advanced research platform equipped with modern acoustic research systems.
The vessel will operate at speeds ranging from 4 knots to 12 knots, with an endurance of 30 days or 4,500 nautical miles in a single mission, and can accommodate up to 120 personnel.
Enhancing India’s Maritime Research Capabilities
The ARS will be equipped to deploy, tow and retrieve various acoustic modules and carry out high-resolution surveys of sound velocity profiles, ocean tides, and current information. This will aid in survey optimization, offshore deployments, and underwater mooring designs.
It will also support meteorological surveys to study atmospheric impacts on sound propagation and conduct shallow water acoustic reverberation studies. The ship will be capable of launching and maintaining standalone buoys, collecting data, and operating silently across multiple speed regimes.
To enhance its operational precision, the ship will feature a Dynamic Positioning System, allowing it to maintain position up to Sea State 4. It will use diesel-electric propulsion and be equipped with three deck cranes for research equipment handling.
GRSE’s Track Record in Building Research Vessels
GRSE has extensive experience in constructing research and survey vessels. It delivered the first series of Sandhayak Class Survey Vessels to the Indian Navy in the 1980s and 1990s and built the INS Sagardhwani in 1994 — a marine acoustic research ship that remains in service today.
Between 2023 and 2025, GRSE delivered INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak, and INS Ikshak to the Navy. In July 2024, it signed a contract with the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) for an advanced Ocean Research Vessel and is also building Coastal Research Vessels for the Geological Survey of India.
Commitment to Atmanirbharta in Shipbuilding
Speaking at the event, Dr Sameer V. Kamat highlighted the importance of the ARS, stating that the new ship will significantly surpass the capabilities of INS Sagardhwani, enabling cutting-edge acoustic research.
Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd), CMD, GRSE, paid homage to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary and reaffirmed GRSE’s commitment to Atmanirbharta in defence production.
“In addition to core warship building, we have been contributing towards research and development, focusing on autonomous platforms, green energy vessels, and portable steel bridges. GRSE is currently the only shipyard in the country building multiple types of research vessels,” he said.
About GRSE
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) is a leading Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Headquartered in Kolkata, GRSE has a distinguished legacy of over 60 years in shipbuilding and engineering. The shipyard has delivered more than 100 warships, making it one of the few shipyards in the country capable of building complex naval vessels, survey ships, and research platforms. GRSE plays a pivotal role in advancing India’s self-reliance in defence and marine technology.
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