India is set to build its first-ever indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV) in partnership with Norway’s technology company Kongsberg Maritime.
The agreement was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Kongsberg during the Nor-Shipping 2025 maritime trade fair held in Oslo, Norway.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who is on a five-day official visit to Norway and Denmark to strengthen India’s ties with global maritime leaders.
According to officials, the vessel will be constructed at GRSE’s Kolkata shipyard, combining Norwegian design expertise with Indian shipbuilding capabilities. It is being developed based on requirements from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and will support India’s missions in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
In an official statement, the Ministry said the new vessel would be equipped with state-of-the-art scientific equipment, allowing researchers to study marine ecosystems, conduct climate research, and explore ocean depths, offering crucial insights into Earth’s past, present, and future.
The MoU also marks the first agreement signed between an Indian and a Norwegian company at Nor-Shipping 2025.
Officials from GRSE said the Polar Research Vessel will play a crucial role in climate science, oceanography, and polar logistics. This supports the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ plan to boost India’s research capabilities in extreme environments. The project is also an important step for the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) initiatives.
The partnership shows India’s growing strength in global shipbuilding. During the event, Sonowal shared that Indian shipyards currently hold 11 per cent of the order book from the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA). He urged expanding bilateral shipbuilding deals and called for deeper collaboration on green shipping, cutting carbon emissions, and meeting IMO’s net-zero targets.
Sonowal also pointed out opportunities under India’s Sagarmala programme and the $2.9 billion Maritime Development Fund, which supports shipbuilding, ports, and logistics projects.
Sonowal also joined a ministerial roundtable on the future of ocean shipping with representatives from the U.S., China, Brazil, Japan, and the UN. They discussed the need for stable regulations and a move toward sustainable, inclusive maritime trade.
The Indian delegation highlighted India’s strong investments in green ports, alternative fuels like green hydrogen, and digital innovation platforms such as ONOP and MAITRI. Officials said India is ready to become a global hub for cost-effective, innovative, and eco-friendly maritime solutions.
GRSE reaffirmed its commitment to self-reliance, technological progress, and global cooperation, calling the MoU a sign of India’s scientific goals and maritime strength.
Once finished, the PRV will support India’s research efforts and strengthen its role in international scientific partnerships focused on polar and climate studies.
Source: Marine Insight