- Project: Construction of India’s first indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV), estimated to cost around ₹2,600 crore.
- Partnership: GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., Kolkata) signed an MoU with Kongsberg (Norway) for co-design and construction.
- User Agency: The vessel will be operated by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) to support India’s research stations (like Maitri, Bharati, and Himadri).
- Strategic Goal:
- Enhance India’s scientific autonomy and year-round research capability in the Arctic and Antarctic (e.g., glaciology, climate science, marine biodiversity).
- Showcase ‘Make in India’ prowess in advanced, specialized shipbuilding (ice-class vessel design).
- Ministerial Promotion: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended the Nor-Shipping 2025 event in Oslo, Norway.
- India’s Vision: The Minister promoted India’s MAHASAGAR Vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). This expanded maritime vision focuses on:
- Sustainable maritime investments.
- Opportunities in shipbuilding, ship recycling, and green logistics (e.g., green ports, alternative fuels).
- Deepening global maritime collaboration.
This initiative positions India as a stronger player in global climate and polar research while boosting its domestic shipbuilding capacity.
Would you like the full form of the MAHASAGAR vision?