Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) is a hundred year old [cite news
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/grse.htm
date = 2006-04-01
title = Type 16A Brahmaputra class
publisher = GlobalSecurity.org] company and one of India's leading shipyards which is owned by the Government of India. It builds and repairs a wide range of vessels from warships for the Indian Navy to merchant shipping vessels.

It was founded in 1884 as a small factory on the eastern bank of the river Hooghly. It was renamed Garden Reach Workshop in 1916, and was incorporated as a Company under the Indian Companies Act. The company was taken over by the Government of India on 1st April, 1960.

Manufacturing facilities

The company has a total of seven manufacturing units, out of which six are in Kolkata and one at Ranchi. Among the various manufacturing units are:
* Computer Aided Design (CAD) centre
* Plate preparation and steel fabrication workshop
* A covered all-weather non-tidal wet basin for fitting out medium and small ships
* Dry dock for building as well as repair of ships up to DWT|26,000|metric|first=yes
* An independent fitting out complex for ships consisting of three alongside berths with supporting shops and necessary facilities
* Two river jetties for berthing vessels up to 60 metres in length
* One building berth and two slipways equipped with cranage near the hull construction shops for quick and easy completion of tasks
* An engine repair and overhauling plant at Ranchi for the general repair and overhauling of MAN, MTU and BERGEN diesel engines

Types of ships

The company manufactures [cite news
url = http://www.grse.nic.in/indnew.htm
title = Shipbuilding & Ship Repair facilities
accessdate = 2006-07-28
publisher = Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd] warships including the sclass|Godavari|frigate, missile corvettes, fleet replenishment tankers, fast patrol vessels, landing ship tanks and hovercraft for the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. Among commercial and scientific ships it makes oceanographic-cum-hydrographic research vessels, marine acoustic research ships, non-propelled dredgers, grab hopper dredgers, trailing suction hopper dredgers, tugboats, and bulk carriers.

In 2006, the company launched and commissioned two frigates for the Indian Navy. A further four warships are under construction. [cite news
url = http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=191740
date = 2006-07-07
title = GRSE sees 50 per cent hike in its turnover
accessdate = 2006-07-28
publisher = Kolkota Newsline: Indian Express]

"Car Nicobar class fast attack craft"
* INS Car Nicobar launched on 23 November 2007
* INS Chetlat launched on 27 November 2007
* INS Cinque launched on 16 July 2008
* INS Cheriyam launched on 16 July 2008

"Trinkat" class [cite news
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/p-trinkat.htm
date =
title = Trinkat Class
accessdate = 2007-01-05
publisher = GlobalSecurity.org]
* INS "Trinkat" Commissioned 28 September 2000
* INS "Tillanchang" Commissioned 17 March 2001 (Transferred to Maldives National Security Service (NSS) on 16 April 2006 and renamed NSS "Huravee")
* INS "Tarasa" Commissioned 24 August 2001
* INS "Tarmugli" Commissioned 04 March 2002 (Transferred to Seychelles Coast Guard on 23 February 2005 and was renamed SCG "Topaz")

"Bangaram" class patrol craft [cite news
url = http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Bangaram.html
date =
title = Bangram Class
accessdate = 2007-01-05
publisher = Bharat Rakshak]
* INS "Bangaram" Commissioned 10 February 2006
* INS "Bitra" Commissioned 28 March 2006
* INS "Batti Malv" Commissioned 31 July 2006
* INS "Baratang" Commissioned 12 September 2006

"Shardul" class landing ship tank
* INS "Shardul" commissioned 4 January 2007 at Karwal Naval Base, INS Kadamba. [cite news
url = http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010501452000.htm
date = 2007-01-05
title = INS Shardul dedicated
accessdate = 2007-01-06
publisher = The Hindu] It has a primary role of transporting troops, vehicles and armaments across to enemy shores, and can carry 11 main battle tanks, 10 army vehicles and 500 troops. It has a flight deck that can handle the Sea King or the Dhruv helicopter. [cite news
url = http://www.india-defence.com/reports/2767
date = 2006-12-27
title = Navy to Commission Third Large Amphibious Ship INS Shardul
accessdate = 2007-01-06
publisher = India Defence]
* INS "Kesari" Commissioned October 2007
* INS "Airavat" is to be commissioned in 2008.

Other manufacturing facilities

* Deck machinery & shipboard equipment
* Engines
* Deep well water pumps
* Portable bridges
* Material handling
* General engineering
* Technical training

Acquisition

On July 1, 2006 GRSE [cite news
url = http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=191740
date = 2006-07-07
title = GRSE sees 50 per cent hike in its turnover
accessdate = 2006-07-28
publisher = Kolkota Newsline: Indian Express] bought the Rajabagan dockyard (RBD) of Central Inland water Transport Corporation Ltd.(CIWTC). This 33 acre dockyard with a waterfront of 600 metres would solve GRSE’s land shortage problems and increase their production area.

Future

The 80-year-old main unit of GRSE, where the launch was held, will soon be dismantled for modernization under a Rs 400-crore plan. [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071128/asp/calcutta/story_8599567.asp New-age ship for patrol] ]

ee also

* Cochin Shipyard
* Mazagon Dock Limited
* Goa Shipyard Limited

References