India To Build First-Ever Polar Research Vessel As GRSE Inks Pact With Norway’s Kongsberg

In a landmark development for India’s scientific and maritime ambitions, the country is set to construct its first indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV), following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Norway-based Kongsberg.

The agreement was formalised in Oslo in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

According to a report by India Today, the PRV will be equipped with advanced scientific instruments to enable deep-sea exploration and polar research.

It will support India’s existing research bases in Antarctica and the Arctic, offering vital infrastructure for climate studies and marine ecosystem research.

Historically, India has depended on chartered international vessels for polar missions. The construction of this vessel marks a strategic shift, aiming to reduce foreign reliance and bolster India’s autonomy in conducting sustained polar expeditions.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,600 crore, and the vessel is expected to be completed within five years.

The collaboration with Kongsberg brings global expertise into India’s maritime fold, reflecting a broader effort to merge international technology with domestic capability.

The PRV will also support a wide range of oceanographic studies in the Southern Ocean and beyond, contributing to India’s scientific footprint in climate science and marine biodiversity.

This initiative is part of the government’s larger maritime vision, ‘MAHASAGAR’, aimed at promoting sustainable development and international cooperation in the blue economy, as reiterated by Minister Sonowal during his participation in Nor-Shipping 2025 in Norway.