Press Releases 2023-24 - Quarter 3

PRESS RELEASE

A Birthday Boost for Indian Navy - GRSE delivers "Largest Ever Survey Vessel to be built in the Country - INS Sandhayak" on the Navy Day 2023

Kolkata, 04 Dec 2023: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, achieved yet another milestone on Monday, 04 December 2023, by delivering the INS Sandhayak - the largest survey vessel ever built in India and first in the series of four Survey Vessels (Large) being built by it - to the Indian Navy. INS Sandhayak (Yard 3025) was launched by Smt Pushpa Bhatt, wife of Shri Ajay Bhatt, Hon'ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, on 05 December 2021.

The Protocol of delivery and acceptance was signed between Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE and Commanding Officer of the vessel, Cmde R M Thomas, in the presence of Rear Admiral Nelson D'Souza, NM, CSO (Tech), Shri R K Dash, Director (Finance), Cdr S Bose, IN (Retd), Director (Shipbuilding) and DIG S Ghosh, ICG (Retd), Director (Personnel) and other Senior Officials of GRSE and Indian Navy.

What makes the event more significant is the fact that the Indian Navy celebrates December 4 as the Navy Day. GRSE has partnered with the Indian Navy for the last 62 years after delivery of the first indigenously-built warship INS Ajay in 1961. Since then, GRSE has delivered 70 more warships to the Indian Navy.

Delivery of a 110-metre-long warship of the quality of the INS Sandhayak is no mean feat, particularly when no platform of its kind has ever been built in India. What is remarkable is that GRSE continued to work on this ship even during the pandemic years.

The INS Sandhayak is the lead vessel in a series of four Survey Vessels (Large) or SVLs and is actually the reincarnation of another ship by that name.That ship - also a survey vessel - was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1981 and decommissioned in 2021. The new INS Sandhayak and the remaining ships of the series are far more advanced than their predecessors that have all been decommissioned.

These survey ships are capable of full-scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic survey of port and harbour approaches as well as the determination of navigation channels and routes. In addition, the Sandhayak-class of SVLs can undertake surveys of maritime limits and collection of oceanographic and geographical data for defence applications. Such data adds muscle to India's maritime capabilities. These ships can also carry a helicopter each, participate in low-intensity combat and function as hospital ships. They can also be used for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.

Propelled by two marine diesel engines combined with fixed-pitch propellers and fitted with bow and stern thrusters to help the ships manoeuvre at low speeds during surveys, they are ideally suited to carry out their designated operations. Fully designed by GRSE's Design Team to meet the requirements of the Indian Navy, the INS Sandhayak was built using 'Integrated Construction' technology. This was in compliance with applicable provisions and regulations of the Classification Society (IRS).

Cmde P R Hari IN (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, lauded the effort put in by Team GRSE, the Indian Navy and all the other stakeholders and said "We are proud to deliver this ship on the Navy Day and we are confident to deliver the balance three ships of the SVL project as per the committed timelines".

At the moment, GRSE is building 18 more warships for the Indian Navy, including three 17A Advanced Frigates, eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft and four Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels.

PRESS RELEASE

GRSE Hosts First-Ever National-Level QCC Competition for Defence PSUs

Kolkata, 29 Nov 2023: Promoting excellence and innovation in Defence Manufacturing while fostering synergy among all Defence PSUs, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), a leading Indian shipyard, in association with the Society of Defence Technologists (SODET), organized the first-of-its-kind national level "Quality Concepts Circle (QCC) Competition - 2023" from November 28th to 29th, 2023, at the GRSE Main Unit in Kolkata. Twenty-five Quality Circle (QC) teams representing various Defence Public Sector Undertakings including BEL, HAL, HSL, GSL, MDL, BDL, GRSE, DGQA & DGAQA participated in this historic event.

The competition theme, "Innovation, Indigenisation, and Quality - The Future of Nation," underscores the industry's commitment to advancing technological innovation, promoting self-reliance, and maintaining the highest standards of quality in defence production in India.

Director, Indian Maritime University, Kolkata Campus, Rear Admiral (Dr.) Rangachari PJ, IN(Retd.), graced the event as the Chief Guest, adding significance to the occasion. The event witnessed the presence of Cmde PR Hari, IN(Retd.), Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, Shri RK Dash, Director (Finance), Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN(Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding), GRSE, DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG(Retd.), Director (Personnel), GRSE, Shri N Ravindra, Secretary General, SODET and senior officials from GRSE and other DPSUs.

17 QC teams were honoured at the Award ceremony, with GOLD Award and 8 QC teams received the SILVER Award. The QCC Competition served as a platform for sharing best practices, promoting collaboration, and enhancing the overall quality standards in the Defence Manufacturing sector. The competition comprised insightful presentations, discussions, and interactive sessions, allowing participating teams to showcase their innovative solutions and quality improvement initiatives. Topics covered ranged from process optimization to technological advancements in the field of defence production.

Director IMU, Kolkata Campus, Rear Admiral (Dr.) Rangachari PJ, IN(Retd.), mentioned that essentially, Quality is all about people contributing to the system, to the organization and is also about whether they have been empowered to find that expression. Quality also demands that the employees are involved completely in the entire process, for achieving the organisation's objectives and going beyond the customer's expectations. Admiral Rangachari PJ, commended the participating teams and mentioned that each one would go back and find a place in the scheme of things in whichever areas they were contributing to, in their organisations'. Empowerment and motivation through proper leadership become an important dimension for ensuring quality, he added.

CMD, GRSE, Cmde PR Hari, IN(Retd.), was happy to note that 25 teams from 08 DPSUs had taken part in this GRSE-hosted event. He mentioned that the theme of the first-ever National Level QCC 2023, was most apt, considering the present environment where the entire nation is striving towards achieving 100% Atmanirbharta.

PRESS RELEASE

GRSE Triumphs at PRSI National Awards 2023: Secures Excellence in Five Distinct Categories

Kolkata, 27 Nov 2023: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, a premier warship builder, bagged awards for five distinct categories at the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) National Awards 2023, showcasing its commitment to excellence across various domains. DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG(Retd.), Director (Personnel), GRSE, received the awards from Swami Chidanand Saraswati at an award function held at Dr BR Ambedkar International Convention Centre, Janpath, New Delhi on 25 Nov 23.

GRSE's exceptional craftsmanship earned it the PRSI National Award for its outstanding Coffee Table Book, while its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility led to the title of "Best PSU for Implementing CSR." Acknowledgment for the "Best PSU for Childcare Project" highlighted GRSE's dedication to community welfare, and its strides in self-reliance aligned with the GoI's Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative earned the "Best Organisational Effort in Aatmanirbhar Bharat" award. Additionally, the company's innovative contributions to R&D in Defence were recognized with the PRSI National Award for "New R&D Efforts in Defence Sector." These accolades underscore GRSE's excellence and substantial contributions across diverse domains.

The Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) Awards is an annual recognition program that acknowledges outstanding achievements in the field of public relations and corporate communications. The awards celebrate excellence in various categories, including communication campaigns, publications, CSR initiatives, and organizational efforts contributing to societal welfare.