India’s quest for deeper scientific understanding of the Earth’s polar regions and oceans has taken a monumental step forward with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norway’s Kongsberg company.
This pivotal collaboration will see the construction of India’s first-ever indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV) at GRSE’s yard in Kolkata. The agreement, forged on the sidelines of Norshipping 2025 in Oslo, Norway, underscores India’s unwavering commitment to scientific advancement, sustainable development, and a bolstered ‘Make in India’ initiative in advanced shipbuilding.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who attended the signing ceremony, emphasised the strategic significance of this partnership. He articulated that the MoU is a beacon of hope and progress, reflecting India’s dedication to scientific discovery and its contribution to global efforts in addressing pressing challenges such as climate change. The PRV is envisioned as a state-of-the-art vessel, equipped with the latest scientific instrumentation, enabling Indian researchers to delve into ocean depths, study fragile marine ecosystems, and unlock new insights into our planet’s past, present, and future.
This indigenous build, a cornerstone of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, will not only strengthen India’s polar and ocean research capabilities but also showcase the nation’s burgeoning shipbuilding prowess. The design expertise from Kongsberg, coupled with GRSE’s manufacturing capabilities, will ensure the vessel meets the stringent requirements of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCOPR), the primary user for research activities in the polar and Southern Ocean realms. This collaborative approach promises to deliver a vessel that is technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable, aligning with the global push for zero-net carbon and eco-friendly maritime operations.
The Polar Research Vessel is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting India’s scientific missions in both the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. Its operations will contribute significantly to critical areas such as climate research, oceanography, and polar logistics. By facilitating extensive data collection and analysis, the PRV will enhance India’s understanding of global climate patterns, marine biodiversity, and the profound impacts of environmental changes on these sensitive ecosystems. This strategic acquisition by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) further strengthens India’s commitment to global scientific collaboration and its proactive stance on environmental challenges.
Beyond the PRV agreement, Minister Sonowal also actively participated in a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on the ‘Role of Shipping in Shaping the Future,’ held during Norshipping 2025. This forum, attended by ministers from global maritime powers including Brazil, Japan, the US, China, and Norway, stressed the imperative for the industry to align towards a stable, long-term regulatory environment supporting inclusive and decarbonised ocean-based trade. India’s maritime sector, as highlighted by the Minister, is on a transformative path driven by innovation, sustainability, and robust global partnerships.
Minister Sonowal extended an invitation for greater collaboration with Norway, aiming to build a green, smart, and resilient maritime ecosystem. He underscored India’s substantial investments in green ports, the exploration of alternative fuels like green hydrogen, and strategic incentives designed to establish India as a global leader in shipbuilding. The growing partnership, exemplified by Indian shipyards already delivering next-generation vessels to Norwegian firms, solidifies India’s emergence as a trusted and cost-effective hub for sustainable maritime solutions. He also championed expanding Norwegian orders in Indian shipyards, leveraging schemes like India’s ship-breaking credit note, and highlighted significant investment opportunities under the Sagarmala programme and the USD 2.9 billion Maritime Development Fund, reinforcing India’s commitment to a sustainable, equitable, and innovation-driven maritime future.
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