In a significant move to enhance its global competitiveness and technical prowess, Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking under India's Ministry of Defence, has forged a strategic partnership with the Norway-headquartered maritime organisation Det Norske Veritas (DNV).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalised on September 2, 2026, during the prestigious SMM Hamburg Maritime Trade Fair held in Germany, one of the world's leading international maritime industry events.
This agreement merges GRSE’s extensive legacy in marine engineering, warship design, and construction with DNV’s worldwide authority in technical assurance, certification, sustainability, digitalisation, and maritime advisory services.
Through this collaboration, the two entities will concentrate on engineering state-of-the-art warships and specialised maritime vessels, alongside pioneering green shipping alternatives and ecologically sustainable marine technologies.
A major component of this alliance revolves around digital shipbuilding and the integration of next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Industry 4.0 into manufacturing workflows.
Furthermore, both organisations will prioritise knowledge-sharing frameworks, technical training, and skill enhancement for the shipbuilding workforce.
By adopting advanced shipbuilding methodologies, eco-friendly systems, and digital innovations, GRSE aims to significantly upgrade its production capabilities. Consequently, this will bolster India’s capacity to execute complex, highly sophisticated defence and commercial shipbuilding contracts.
This MoU aligns with a growing international shift towards smart shipyards, green energy solutions, and cutting-edge maritime systems. Simultaneously, it supports India's overarching goals to broaden its industrial footprint and elevate its standing in the global shipbuilding market.
An official statement from the company highlighted that this synergy is dedicated to fostering global excellence, sustainability, and innovation, ultimately helping to build a more robust and self-sufficient Indian maritime and defence ecosystem.
Expanding Global Partnerships
Adding to its international collaborations, GRSE signed a second, separate MoU during the SMM Hamburg summit with the Netherlands-based Damen Technical Cooperation B.V.This secondary agreement focuses on the joint design, technology transfer, and construction of advanced dredgers within India, further supporting the country's domestic manufacturing ambitions.
These recent pacts underscore GRSE's ongoing evolution as a premier defence shipyard. The state-run shipbuilder holds the distinction of delivering 118 warships for the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations—the highest number built by any Indian shipyard to date.
Equipped with four distinct shipyards, GRSE continues to modernise its infrastructure to cater to both commercial and advanced defence requirements on a global scale.
