By A Correspondent

Kolkata: In a significant milestone for India’s maritime research and defence ecosystem, state-run Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) has laid the keel for a cutting-edge Acoustic Research Ship (ARS) being built for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), a premier unit of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The new state-of-the-art research vessel will serve as a crucial platform for acoustic and oceanographic studies, enhancing India’s capability to conduct advanced underwater research.

Equipped with facilities to deploy, tow, and recover scientific instruments, the ARS will support high-resolution surveys of sound velocity profiles and collect vital oceanographic data, including tides and currents, for a better understanding of the marine environment.

The 93-metre-long and 18-metre-wide ship will be powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system and feature a dynamic positioning system capable of holding position up to Sea State 4.

With an endurance of 30 days or 4,500 nautical miles, it will accommodate 120 personnel and house three deck cranes to handle specialized research equipment.

Designed for ultra-quiet operation, the ship’s wide operational speed range (4–12 knots) will allow it to perform acoustic trials under varied sea conditions, according to a statement from the shipyard on Oct. 17, 2025.

The contract for the ARS was signed in Oct. 2024, reinforcing GRSE’s deep partnership with the Indian Navy and DRDO. The shipyard’s legacy in building complex survey and research ships includes the Sandhayak-class vessels and INS Sagardhwani, India’s first acoustic research ship, delivered in 1994 and still operational after a recent refit.

GRSE continues to lead India’s research vessel construction domain, having delivered INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak, and INS Ikshak, and recently signed contracts with NCPOR and the Geological Survey of India for advanced ocean and coastal research vessels.

The keel-laying ceremony was graced by the Department of Defence (Research & Development) Secretary and DRDO Chairman Dr. Sameer V. Kamat, along with GRSE Chairman and Managing Director Commodore P. R. Hari (Retd.), and senior officials from DRDO, NPOL, and GRSE.

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