India's GRSE aims to advance autonomous, electric vessel building

DNV has agreed to support Indian shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) to advance its vessel construction, green technologies, digitalisation and autonomous systems for maritime, offshore and defence sectors.

GRSE is at the forefront of shipbuilding and innovation in India, which is undergoing a revival in vessel construction under government initiatives and funds.

Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and strategic collaboration, DNV will support GRSE by providing classification and technical advice on naval, defence, and specialised vessels while offering regulatory insights on evolving maritime regulations and international naval standards.

Their MoU covers modular construction, design optimisation and the development of various vessel types such as autonomous surface vessels, offshore patrol boats, polar research vessels, electric and hybrid-propulsion ferries and low-carbon naval auxiliary vessels.

DNV will also assist GRSE in developing pathways for alternative fuels, including hydrogen and ammonia, lifecycle emissions assessments and its vessel repair and refit infrastructure.

“Shipbuilders are being asked to make long-term decisions against a backdrop of geopolitical tension and market unpredictability,” said DNV chief executive, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.

“But this also creates opportunities for innovation and to develop new capabilities across the whole maritime value chain,” he said.