Major Achievement For GRSE As PS Zoroaster Prepares To Return For Second Refit
Kolkata (February 07, 2026): In recognition of the shipyard's competency and adherence to schedules, the 2nd refit of Seychelles Coast Guard Ship PS Zoroaster was awarded to Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Friday, February 06, 2026, by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India.
The contract was signed by Shri Prasanna Shrivastava, Joint Secretary (IOR), MEA, Government of India, and Cdr Harish Kumar, IN (Retd), General Manager, on behalf of GRSE, Kolkata. The refit of the ship is to commence in early March 2026 and is scheduled to be completed in three months.
The PS Zoroaster was built by GRSE and handed over to the Seychelles Coast Guard by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2021. The ship's maiden short refit was carried out by GRSE in 2024.
The return of PS Zoroaster to India and GRSE is in keeping with India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision. Undertaking a second refit of the warship will help to strengthen collaborative efforts between India and the Seychelles towards enhancing regional stability and security.
About GRSE:
The journey of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., a Defence Public Sector Undertaking, under the administrative control of Ministry of Defence, and a Schedule ‘A’ Mini Ratna Category I company, dates back to 1884 when it started its journey as a small workshop to repair vessels of River Steam Navigation Company. The Company was taken over by the Government of India in 1960. GRSE has the distinction of becoming the first shipyard of independent India to build a warship for Indian Navy, the Seaward Defence Boat (SDB) INS Ajay, way back in 1961. GRSE also built the first ever Indian Export Warship “CGS Barracuda” for Govt. of Mauritius, a Fast Patrol Vessel “SCG PS Zoroaster” for Seychelles and an Ocean-Going Cargo & Passenger Ferry Vessel “MV Ma Lisha” for Cooperative Republic of Guyana. GRSE is the only Indian Shipbuilder to have four distinct shipyards as a unique infrastructure advantage. GRSE has built over 800 platforms, including 115 warships for Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign countries - highest number of warships built & delivered by any Indian shipyard till date.
From Frigates, Corvettes, Fleet Tankers, Landing Ship Tank, Landing Craft Utility to Survey Vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels and Fast Attack Craft - the repertoire is rich and varied. In addition to shipbuilding & ship repair, GRSE has also diversified into engineering business with a product profile of pre-fabricated steel bridges, various deck machinery items and assembly, testing & overhauling of marine diesel engines and the manufacture of 30mm Naval Surface Guns. Noteworthy accolades include Defence Minister’s Award 2025 for Excellence in Financial Performance, Defence Minister’s Award 2022 in Designing the most silent ship for Indian Navy for ASW operation, Defence Minister’s Award for Excellence for In-house Design Effort for Offshore Patrol Vessel for Government of Mauritius, CGS Barracuda, Best Performing Defence Shipyard of India for Four Years in a row. GRSE embraced infrastructure modernization over past decades and can undertake concurrent construction of 28 ships at a time. A strong team of highly skilled design engineers and state-of-the-art Next Generation VR Lab & latest software aid in the in-house design capabilities. With proven credentials, the shipyard is on a growth path, reaffirming its motto “In Pursuit of Excellence and Quality in Shipbuilding.