Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) on October 15, 2025, laid the keel for the first vessel of its Multipurpose Vessel (MPV) project commissioned by Germany’s Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler and Reederei GmbH & Co. KG.
The ceremony in Kolkata was attended by key dignitaries, including Cdr Shantanu Bose (Retd), GRSE’s Director (Shipbuilding), and Jonas Meinhardt, Managing Director of Carsten Rehder.
Representatives from GRSE and the German shipping company were present to witness the formal initiation of construction on the first vessel of the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series.
Initially, a contract for four vessels was signed in June 2024, followed by subsequent agreements that increased the total order to twelve ships, with the last batch signed off in September 2025.
Features of the CORAL 7500 DWT MPV series
Each vessel measures approximately 120 metres in length, 17 metres in width (beam), and 5.85 metres in draught, able to carry up to 7,500 metric tonnes of varied cargo.
A standout feature of these vessels is their adaptable design. They incorporate a large single cargo hold suitable for bulk, general, and project cargoes, including containers that can be transported on hatch covers.
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The vessels can also carry multiple large offshore components, such as windmill blades, on their decks, highlighting their suitability for transporting renewable energy infrastructure.
These MPVs will employ hybrid propulsion systems designed with future adaptability in mind, including the potential use of methanol fuel to enhance environmental friendliness.
The design collaboration involved German maritime firms, including F.H. Bertling, ForestWave Navigation/Schulte & Bruns, and Delft Shipping, alongside GRSE, with certification of the ships to be provided by the globally recognised classification society DNV.