Kolkata / New Delhi, Dec 1 (Mayank Nigam) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Friday commenced steel-cutting of an Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) that the shipyard is building for the National Centre for Polar & Ocean Research (NCPOR). This important event marks the beginning of any shipbuilding process after the signing of the contract between GRSE and NCPOR, an organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, on July 16. The contract for the ORV is worth nearly Rs 840 crore. The ship will be 89.50 metres long and 18.80 metres wide, with a depth of 12.50 metres.
It will have a gross tonnage of 5,900 Tons with a speed of 14 knots at 90% maximum continuous rating (MCR). The research vessel will be able to operate at a maximum depth of 6,000 metres. The ORV, once delivered, will be capable of Underway Swath Multibeam as well as Geophysical Seismic surveys in coastal seas and deep waters. She will also be able to carry out Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) profiling and water sampling operations such as biological sampling using vertical and horizontal methods through various nets. It will also effectively carry out surface and deep-sea mooring and data buoy operations, seabed sampling using corers and grabs as well as rock dredging with chain bag dredges. She will undertake underway atmospheric observations, surface meteorological and current measurements and collect upper air data. She will also be able to deploy and retrieve heavy test/protocol-type equipment and submersibles such as AUVs and ROVs. Scientists will be able to carry out analytical work and data processing on board.
The ship will also provide training and education to scientists and technicians. Dr. Ravichandran, while mentioning that the transformative change in the ocean contributes not only to GDP growth but also sustainability in the future, stated that the pilot project is part of the Deep Ocean Mission in line with the Government of India’s Vision 2047 and more such strong collaborations with GRSE are expected in the future. He mentioned that GRSE is confident that this project of the ORV shall be a stepping stone towards the execution of more such research vessels for the Ministry of Earth Sciences. GRSE is fast turning into a destination for those in search of specialized vessels. Recently, it signed a contract worth Rs 490.98 crore with DRDO’s Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) for an Acoustic Research Ship. At the moment, GRSE is working on 43 platforms, including 17 warships of four classes. These include several export orders as well as 13 hybrid ferries for the Government of West Bengal.