The Shreyas offshore patrol vessel has been launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy, strengthening the service’s planned capacity for maritime surveillance, anti-piracy operations, rescue and relief work. The vessel was launched at GRSE’s Kolkata dock on Saturday in the presence of Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Ajay Kocchar, with construction reported to be about 68% complete.
The launch marks the Indian shipbuilder’s third offshore patrol vessel for the Navy in five months. Vice Admiral Kocchar congratulated GRSE employees for launching one vessel approximately every 45 days, describing the achievement as evidence of the growing pace, scale and capability of India’s warship-building system.
“This success reflects the tireless efforts of GRSE employees and their willingness to work around the clock,” Kocchar said at the ceremony. He added that the need for prolonged maritime surveillance and a continuous naval presence had increased amid changing international conditions.
According to the statement delivered at the event, the next-generation offshore patrol vessels are intended to support surveillance at sea, counter-piracy missions, disaster response, relief operations and other security and military activities. Their deployment is expected to strengthen the Navy’s presence in areas connected to India’s maritime interests.
The launch comes as India is seeking to expand domestic capability in warship construction. Kocchar said more than 42 ships are currently under construction at shipyards across the country. He also said that projects covering about 78 ships and submarines, along with 127 fast interceptor craft, are at different stages of development under 10 major programmes.
The Navy Vice Chief stressed that new vessels must be fully capable of performing their designated roles from the day they are commissioned. This would require the effectiveness of their weapons, sensors, communication systems and other equipment to be ensured before induction. He also called for lessons from earlier vessels and similar platforms built at different Indian shipyards to be incorporated into subsequent construction.
GRSE has delivered more than 100 vessels so far, including warships for the Indian Navy and patrol vessels for Mauritius and Seychelles. The company has also built a cargo vessel for Guyana and patrol craft for Bangladesh, expanding its presence in overseas shipbuilding projects.
The launch is not the final stage of the Shreyas project. Equipment installation, trials and commissioning remain before the vessel can be handed over to the Navy. The shipbuilder has expressed confidence that the vessel will be completed and delivered within the scheduled timeframe, with delivery and commissioning expected in the coming months.
