India to build first-ever Polar Research Vessel (PRV) as Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) signs MoU with Norway’s Kongsberg

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, witnessed a key MoU signing between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), Kolkata, and Norway’s Kongsberg Oslo to build India’s first indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV). The vessel will support advanced oceanic and polar research for the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCOPR), boosting India’s scientific capabilities and ‘Make In India’ shipbuilding efforts.
At a high-level ministerial meeting on shipping, he highlighted India’s expanded MAHASAGAR vision, focusing on mutual, holistic maritime growth, building on the earlier SAGAR initiative, and promoting sustainable ocean-based trade and regional cooperation. He also held a roundtable with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA), inviting investments in India’s maritime sector, emphasising green ports, alternative fuels, and leveraging Indian shipyards, which currently hold 11% of the NSA’s order book. He underscored India’s seafaring workforce, ship recycling compliance, and innovation through digital platforms, aiming to deepen India-Norway maritime collaboration. He is on a five-day official visit to Norway and Denmark to strengthen ties with the global maritime industry.

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