Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers launched Yard 3040 Shreyas in Kolkata, the first Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) for the Indian Navy. The 3,000 tonne vessel can patrol up to 8,500 nautical miles and sustain high speed operations far from the coast. The launch marks a clear advance in domestic warship building and long range maritime surveillance capability.
What Is NGOPV and What Is an Offshore Patrol Vessel?
The Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV) is a large, long endurance warship built for the Indian Navy to patrol distant sea zones. An offshore patrol vessel is a naval ship designed for surveillance, coastal protection, search and rescue, anti piracy and fleet support beyond territorial waters.
NGOPV stands for Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel. The term OPV is the short form used in naval service for this class of ship. In the Indian Navy, OPV refers to a patrol ship that operates in the exclusive economic zone and the open ocean. The exclusive economic zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coast, and India has a vast area to guard in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and around island territories.
An offshore patrol vessel differs from a fast patrol vessel in size and reach. Fast patrol vessels are smaller craft used near the shore by the Indian Coast Guard for quick interception. Offshore patrol vessels are much larger. They carry helicopters, heavier sensors and longer fuel reserves. They stay at sea for weeks. Their tasks include monitoring shipping lanes, preventing smuggling and illegal fishing, responding to disasters and showing naval presence in distant waters.
The NGOPV class succeeds earlier Indian designs such as the Saryu class and the Sukanya class offshore patrol vessels. Those classes proved the value of long endurance patrol ships for India. The new generation adds greater speed, better sea keeping, modern navigation systems and space for unmanned systems and modular mission equipment.
Shreyas Launch: Features and Technical Specifications
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers launched the NGOPV Shreyas at its Kolkata yard. The ship bears the yard number Yard 3040. A launch means the hull has been completed and floated in water for the first time. Outfitting, harbour trials and sea trials follow. Delivery to the Indian Navy and formal commissioning happen after trials prove every system at sea.
Shreyas is a large patrol ship. Its hull stretches 113 metres in length with a beam, or width, of 14.6 metres. Displacement stands at 3,000 tonnes. Displacement means the weight of water pushed aside by the ship, and it is the standard measure of a warship size. At this size, Shreyas can handle rough ocean conditions and carry fuel, crew, boats, a helicopter and surveillance equipment for long missions.
Speed and range define the value of an offshore patrol vessel. Shreyas can reach a maximum speed of 23 knots. One knot equals 1.852 kilometres per hour. At an economical cruising speed of 14 knots, the ship offers an endurance of 8,500 nautical miles. That range allows continuous patrols from the mainland to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and back without refuelling. Long legs matter. They reduce dependence on support ships.
| Feature of Yard 3040 Shreyas | Confirmed Detail |
|---|---|
| Ship name | Shreyas |
| Yard number | Yard 3040 |
| Builder | Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata |
| User service | Indian Navy |
| Length | 113 metres |
| Width (beam) | 14.6 metres |
| Displacement | 3,000 tonnes |
| Maximum speed | 23 knots |
| Endurance | 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots cruising speed |
The NGOPV design supports many roles from a single platform. The Indian Navy will use Shreyas for coastal defence, sea lane surveillance, search and rescue, protection of offshore assets, anti piracy patrols and humanitarian assistance. The deck can support helicopter operations. Small boats allow boarding of suspect vessels. Modern radar, communication and electro optical systems give the crew a clear picture of surrounding waters day and night.
Builder Profile: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers in Kolkata
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, universally known as GRSE, is the builder of Shreyas. GRSE is the full form that readers often search to confirm. The company is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. It operates its main shipyard at Garden Reach in Kolkata, West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River.
GRSE traces its origin to 1884, when it started as a small workshop for marine repairs. The Government of India took over the company in 1960. Since then GRSE has grown into a major warship yard. The company built INS Ajay in 1961, the first warship constructed in independent India. That history gives GRSE a central place in domestic naval shipbuilding.
GRSE Kolkata builds frigates, corvettes, landing craft, survey vessels and patrol vessels for the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. Current work includes the Project 17A advanced frigates, anti submarine warfare shallow water craft and large survey vessels. Shreyas belongs to a new line. GRSE is constructing four NGOPVs for the Indian Navy. The sister ships in this GRSE series carry the names Shruti, Shachi and Sanghamitra. Yard 3040 Shreyas is the first of the four to touch water.
Shipbuilding at GRSE supports a wide domestic supply chain. Steel, cables, pumps, ventilation and electrical systems come from Indian firms. This local sourcing keeps costs within the country and builds repair skills that help the fleet during long service.
NGOPV Project and Indian Navy Fleet Context
The Ministry of Defence ordered 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Indian Navy. The contracts were signed in March 2023 with two public shipyards. The total deal value stands at about ₹19,500 crore. This structure spreads construction capacity and speeds up delivery.
| Shipyard | Vessels Allotted | Yard Location |
|---|---|---|
| Goa Shipyard Limited | 7 NGOPVs | Vasco da Gama, Goa |
| Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers | 4 NGOPVs (Shreyas, Shruti, Shachi, Sanghamitra) | Kolkata, West Bengal |
The Indian Navy is the direct user of these 11 ships. The Navy guards a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometres and an exclusive economic zone of over 2 million square kilometres. The Andaman and Nicobar Command, island territories in the Arabian Sea and busy trade routes in the Indian Ocean all need regular patrols. Offshore patrol vessels fill the gap between small inshore craft and large destroyers and frigates. They handle daily vigilance work at lower operating cost.
Older patrol classes will gradually give way to the NGOPV design. The Saryu class ships, built by Goa Shipyard, currently serve as the backbone of long range patrol work. The NGOPV improves on that base with higher speed, longer endurance and modern mission systems. Once Shreyas completes trials and joins service, it will add depth to surveillance in the Bay of Bengal and eastern Indian Ocean. Sister ships from both yards will follow in sequence, creating a uniform class across two coasts.
Key Takeaways
- Yard 3040 Shreyas is the first Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel launched by GRSE in Kolkata for the Indian Navy.
- Shreyas measures 113 metres in length and 14.6 metres in width with a displacement of 3,000 tonnes.
- The ship can reach 23 knots maximum speed and cruise up to 8,500 nautical miles at 14 knots.
- NGOPV stands for Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel, a long endurance ship for surveillance and coastal protection beyond territorial waters.
- The Defence Ministry ordered 11 NGOPVs in March 2023, with 4 built by GRSE and 7 by Goa Shipyard Limited.
- GRSE is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, established in its present government form in 1960 and based in Kolkata.
