Garden Reach, Kongsberg Partner to Build India's First Polar Research Vessel

India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Norway-based Kongsberg to construct the country’s first Polar Research Vessel (PRV). The signing took place in Oslo on June 2 during the Nor-Shipping 2025 maritime trade event.

GRSE Construction and Role

The vessel will be built indigenously at GRSE’s shipyard in Kolkata. It will serve the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), which will operate it for scientific missions in the Arctic, Antarctic, and Southern Ocean regions. The design and technological support will come from Kongsberg.

The PRV will be equipped to handle various functions related to oceanography, climate research, and polar logistics. It is intended to support long-term scientific studies in polar zones and aid India’s research operations in extreme environments.

Event and Presence

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal was present during the MoU signing. Senior officials from both India and Norway, as well as leadership from GRSE and Kongsberg, attended the event. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of Nor-Shipping, where ministers and maritime officials from multiple countries were present.

Maritime Talks

On the same day, Sonowal attended a high-level meeting on the future of shipping. Officials from Brazil, Japan, the United States, China, Norway, and the United Nations were also in attendance. Discussions focused on long-term regulation, ocean-based trade, and maritime sustainability.

Read more: Garden Reach Shipbuilders Q4 FY25 Results!

India-Norway Collaboration

Sonowal held further discussions with members of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association. Indian shipyards currently account for 11% of the NSA’s order book. Topics included shipbuilding partnerships, ship recycling, and green shipping corridors. India’s ship recycling infrastructure, with 87% of its yards compliant with the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) standards, was also highlighted.

Share Price Performance

As of 09:32 AM on June 4, 2025, GRSE share price was trading at ₹3,450.70, a 9.53% increase, with a 77.15% increase over the past 6 months and 146.70% over the past year.

Conclusion

The construction of the Polar Research Vessel is part of a larger maritime engagement between India and Norway. It will add to India’s research capacity in polar regions while contributing to the growth of domestic shipbuilding.

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.