The ceremony was graced by Cmde PR
Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director of GRSE and Mr. Thomas
Rehder, Managing Director of Carsten Rehder. Also present on
the occasion were Shri RK Dash, Director (Finance), GRSE, Cdr
Shantanu Bose, IN(Retd), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, DIG Subrato Ghosh,
ICG(Retd), Director (Personnel), GRSE, Shri Abhishek Ranjan, IOFS, CVO, GRSE, senior
officials from GRSE and representatives from the German shipping firm.
This steel-cutting marks the commencement of
construction of the vessels under the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series, a
collaborative project between GRSE and Carsten Rehder. The initial contract for
four vessels was signed on June 22, 2024, followed by subsequent agreements
bringing the total order to eight vessels. The final contracts, including for
the seventh and eighth vessels, were signed on March 24, 2025. Each MPV is
designed with an overall length of 120 metres and a beam of 17 metres, with a
draught of 5.85 metres. With a capacity to carry 7,500 metric tonnes of cargo,
these vessels are equipped with a single, large cargo hold designed for bulk,
general and project cargoes. An innovative feature is the capability to carry
containers on hatch covers and multiple large windmill blades on deck – enhancing
flexibility in cargo handling.
The project is being
developed in close collaboration with German firms including F.H.
Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft
Shipping. Technical design expertise has been provided by M/s SEDS,
in partnership with GRSE and these ships shall be certified by DNV, the
classification society. ForestWave will also serve as time-charterer for CORAL
STRAIT (Vessel #1) and CADIZ STRAIT (Vessel #5).
Cmde P R Hari, IN (Retd),
Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, spoke about the shipyard’s strides in
commercial shipbuilding for global clients and reiterated GRSE’s commitment to
quality, innovation, and timely delivery.
In his address, Mr.
Thomas Rehder, Managing Director of Carsten Rehder mentioned
that for the success of any shipbuilding projects, it is crucial to cooperate
and closely collaborate. “As shipbrokers and ship owners, Carsten Rader have
been involved in many projects in Europe, in Korea, Japan, China. We are now
pleased to enter for the first time into a project in India…
He concluded by stating that working towards a common
goal, overcoming difficulties in the interest of shipyard and both the owners
shall lead to the joint success of the project.