India to build its first-ever polar research vessel; Garden Reach Shipbuilders, Norway's Kongsberg sign MoU

The Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norway’s Kongsberg to indigenously build the country’s first-ever Polar Research Vessel (PRV).

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who attended the signing ceremony in Oslo, hailed the agreement as a landmark initiative under the “Make in India” campaign.

“Let this MoU signing be a beacon of hope and progress, signalling India’s unwavering commitment to scientific advancement and sustainable development. Together, we are building not just a vessel but a legacy,” Sonowal said.

He added that the PRV would carry India’s aspirations to the farthest reaches of the globe and enable researchers to explore marine ecosystems and address global challenges such as climate change.

The vessel, to be designed with assistance from Kongsberg, will be constructed at GRSE’s facilities in Kolkata.

It will be operated by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and is expected to support missions in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

“This vessel will stand as a testament to India’s advanced shipbuilding capabilities,” the Union Minister said.

Earlier in the day, Sonowal represented India at the high-level ministerial meeting on the “Role of Shipping in Shaping the Future” during the Nor-Shipping event. The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials from Brazil, Japan, China, Norway, the United States, and the United Nations.

The Union Minister also participated in a roundtable with members of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), inviting them to invest in India’s fast-growing maritime sector.

He said that Indian shipyards currently hold 11% of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA)’s order book, and urged for further expansion of orders, including leveraging India’s ship-breaking credit note scheme.

Sonowal also pitched for greater cooperation in establishing green shipping corridors, ship recycling, and net-zero goals aligned with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), noting that 87% of India’s ship recycling yards are Hong Kong Convention (HKC) compliant.

The Union Minister is on a five-day official visit to Norway and Denmark to strengthen bilateral ties in the maritime sector and participate in the Nor-Shipping 2025 conference.