India’s state-owned defense shipbuilder, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), has announced the formal signing of a contract with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for the construction of four platform supply vessels (PSVs). The total value of the order is approximately 10.32 billion Indian rupees (about US$109 million), with delivery of the vessels scheduled by July 30, 2030. The company’s successful bid for this contract was previously disclosed in August.
This type of PSV has an overall length of approximately 80 meters, a beam of 20 meters, and a deadweight capacity of 3,000 tonnes. It features an endurance of 45+3 days and is classed by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). With an open deck area of approximately 650 square meters, the vessel is capable of performing a wide range of offshore logistics and support tasks, and it incorporates advanced technology to facilitate offshore oil and gas exploration and production operations.
The new vessels will feature a hybrid propulsion system, equipped with electrically driven azimuth thrusters and a lithium-ion battery energy storage system. This battery system will support peak load management, spinning reserve, dynamic positioning operations, and emergency response capabilities, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Earlier reports indicated that ONGC has set a target to procure 25 offshore support vessels by 2030, with the aim of increasing the proportion of its owned fleet to approximately 30 percent. Based on this plan, it is expected that more vessel orders will be announced in the future.
According to its official website, the history of GRSE dates back to 1884. The shipyard now possesses modern shipbuilding infrastructure—including facilities such as a VR laboratory—and has an annual production capacity of 20 vessels. Since 1961, it has delivered over 800 vessels of various types.
Regarding its current order book, GRSE is building four research vessels and 12 multi-purpose cargo vessels for a German owner. It also holds orders for defense-related vessels, 13 diesel-electric hybrid ferries, and four PSVs.