First Indigenous Polar Research Vessel: A GRSE-Kongsberg Collaboration

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), based in Kolkata, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Norwegian company Kongsberg to jointly design and build India’s first indigenous polar research vessel (PRV). The MoU was signed in Oslo on June 3, 2025, in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who described the agreement as a landmark step in strengthening India's polar and ocean research capabilities.

A PRV is a specialized vessel engineered for scientific research in polar and oceanic regions. India currently operates three polar research stations — Bharati and Maitri in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic — and has long envisioned building a domestically manufactured PRV. In 2023, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced plans for the vessel, with a projected timeline of five years and an estimated cost of ₹2,600 crore.

The vessel will be constructed at GRSE’s shipyard in Kolkata and will feature state-of-the-art scientific equipment to support climate research and oceanographic studies. The project also represents a significant boost to India's shipbuilding industry under the 'Make in India' initiative.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.