On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research vessel at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) shipyard in Kolkata. With the successful keel laying ceremony, the main construction phase of the modern Ocean Research Vessel (ORV) officially began. The vessel is intended to expand India’s scientific capabilities in polar, climate, and deep-sea research.
The research vessel is being built on behalf of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), which operates under India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences. The aim of the project is to significantly strengthen maritime research activities in the Indian Ocean and the polar regions.
According to project officials, around 50 percent of the vessel’s steel structure had already been completed at the time of the keel laying. The shipyard is using modern modular construction methods, in which large ship sections are built separately and later assembled. This approach is expected to improve both construction efficiency and build time.
The new research vessel will be approximately 89.5 meters long and 18.8 meters wide. It is specifically designed for scientific expeditions under extreme conditions and will feature state-of-the-art laboratories, measurement systems, and deep-sea equipment. Planned missions include oceanography, climate research, marine biology, geology, and deep-sea exploration at depths of up to around 6,000 meters.
Another key role of the vessel will be supporting Indian polar programs in Antarctica and the Arctic. India has been increasing its investment in research on climate change, ocean currents, and marine resources for several years. The new ORV is therefore regarded as a strategically important project for the country’s science and technology sectors.
Representatives of the Indian government, scientists, and senior shipyard officials attended the keel laying ceremony. The construction of the vessel also highlights the growing importance of India’s shipbuilding industry in the field of specialized research ships.
With the new Ocean Research Vessel, India aims to further strengthen its position as a leading research nation in the Indian Ocean while also expanding international scientific cooperation.
Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal