GRSE launches third next-gen Navy patrol vessel ‘Shreyas’ in just five months

The vessel was formally launched by Reyman Kochhar, wife of Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, who attended the ceremony as the chief guest.

The launch was conducted with traditional rituals and the chanting of Vedic shlokas.

The Sanskrit name ‘Shreyas’ signifies auspiciousness and the path towards the highest good.

Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff said, "Today's launch is a significant milestone for both GRSE and the Indian Navy. As the Indian Navy's offshore patrol vessel program, Shreyas is the third NGOPV to be launched by GRSE in just about five months and the vessel has already achieved about 68% build progress.

"As was brought out by the CMDE, this is the third launch at a rate of almost 45 days and I must compliment team GRSE for this outstanding achievement."

The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels are designed to offer greater endurance, firepower and operational capabilities than earlier offshore patrol vessels. Measuring approximately 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width, each vessel will have a displacement of 3,000 tonnes and a top speed of 23 knots. The vessels will have an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 14 knots.

"This accomplishment is not only a clear reflection of the unflinching efforts and hard work being put in 24/7 at GRSE, but also of the growing speed, scale and the strength of the Indian warship building system.

"Such progress is particularly encouraging as the demand for sustained maritime presence and a larger fleet of capable platforms has never been more important," Kochhar added.

The vessels are designed to undertake a range of maritime missions, including coastal and offshore asset protection, surveillance, maritime interdiction, visit, board, search and seizure, mine warfare and special operations.

They will also support anti-piracy and counter-infiltration operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue missions, and out-of-area contingency operations, besides undertaking hospital, communications intelligence (COMINT) and fleet maintenance duties.

CMDE PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE said, "Shreyas is a part of the 11-ship NGOPV project of the Indian Navy of which four ships are being built at GRSE. I am happy to inform you that two of these ships have already been launched. The first ship on the 20th of May and the second ship on the 11th of August. With the launch of the third ship Shreyas, it means we are launching one NGOPV every 45 days."

GRSE is currently building nine warships for the Indian Navy, including an advanced guided-missile frigate under Project 17A, four Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWCs) and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels. The shipyard is also building 32 other platforms, including 13 vessels for export, and is in the advanced stages of finalising a contract for five Next Generation Corvettes for the Navy.

"Our shipbuilding capacity has moved up from concurrent construction of 20 vessels to 28 vessels today. We have opened, created new business verticals for ship repairs, new technology and commercial shipbuilding. All put together, this growth has definitely been encouraging and satisfying," CMDE Hari added.

Over the past six decades, GRSE has established itself as one of India’s leading warship builders, delivering 118 warships to the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and friendly foreign nations.

(Reporting by Aaheli Chakraborty)