GRSE Launches Next-Gen VR Lab: Revolutionizing Indigenous Digital Shipbuilding

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. has taken a bold leap into the future of digital shipbuilding by inaugurating its Next Generation Virtual Reality (NGVR) Lab at the Main Works Unit in Kolkata. This cutting-edge facility reinforces India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, empowering indigenous warship design and production with immersive, data-driven technologies.

The NGVR Lab was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, AVSM, NM, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition (CWP&A), Indian Navy, in the presence of senior GRSE leadership including Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, and other distinguished officials from the Indian Navy and GRSE.

GRSE first introduced a VR Lab in 2018. With rapid advances in immersive visualization and digital engineering, the shipyard has now upgraded to a next-generation facility designed to meet the evolving needs of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and global partners.

The NGVR Lab enables true 1:1 scale visualization of ship designs, allowing stakeholders to virtually walk through compartments, systems, and workflows with unprecedented clarity. This transforms traditional design reviews into intelligent, real-time, data-driven processes.

At the heart of the NGVR Lab lies a continuously evolving Digital Twin, synchronized with design, engineering, and construction data. This digital twin ensures:

• Real-time validation of layouts and equipment installation

• Enhanced accessibility, maintainability, and safety checks

• Seamless lifecycle management from concept design to upgrades

The integration of Augmented Reality (AR) extends the digital twin into the physical workspace. By overlaying virtual ship models onto real structures, AR guides construction, inspection, and alignment activities—ensuring precision execution and faithful realization of design intent.

With the NGVR Lab, GRSE is setting new benchmarks in digital shipbuilding innovation. The convergence of VR, AR, and Digital Twin technologies promises:

• Greater design accuracy

• Improved build quality

• Reduced production cycle time

• Smarter, informed decision-making

This milestone positions GRSE as a global leader in indigenous, technology-driven shipbuilding, strengthening India’s maritime capabilities and advancing the nation’s self-reliance in defense manufacturing.