Kolkata -based Gardens Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), the Government of India on Tuesday signed a memorandum with Norwegian firm Kongsburg and made India’s first Polar Research Vehicle (PRV) independently.
The MoU was signed in Oslo in the presence of central ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who contributed to global efforts to pursue India’s abilities in commitment to promote scientific discovery, to push India’s capabilities in polar and ocean research and address challenges such as climate change.
“Signing this MOU is a beach of ASHA and progress, indicating India’s unwavering commitment to scientific progress and sustainable development. Along with this, we are not only building a ship, but also a legacy – innovation, exploration and international cooperation that will inspire the coming generations,” Sonoval said.
A PRV is a ship that serves as a platform for research in polar regions (areas around the north and south poles). It can also help scientists to research the ocean.
India currently operates three research base stations in the polar regions – Bharti and Friendship in Antarctica, and Himadari in the Arctic region – and plan to keep their PRVs for some time. In 2023, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the country’s first PRV within five years. Will be at the estimated cost of. 2,600 crores.
According to the ministry, MoU is an important milestone for India’s shipbuilding sector as it will get a design expertise to develop PRV “, keeping in mind the need for National Center for Polar and Ocean Research, which will use it for research activities in the purview of polar and southern ocean”.
The PRV will be equipped with the latest scientific devices, enabling researchers to detect the depth of the oceans and study the maritime ecosystem. He said that it would be a will for India’s important shipbuilding capabilities, promotes the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
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The GRSE, which has built warships, survey and research ships, will manufacture PRVs in its yard in Kolkata.
Meanwhile, Sonowal, who is on a five -day official visit to Norway and Denmark, represented India at a ministerial meeting on the role of shipping in shaping the future. The meeting emphasized the need to find a stable, long-term, regulatory environment for the industry, which supports the inclusive and decarbone-based trade. Ministers of Brazil, Japan, United Nations, USA, China and Norway also attended the meeting.
Underlining the vision of the Sagar of PM Narendra Modi – Safety and Development for all in the region – Sonowal said that “It takes advantage of the seafood to increase the huge beach, strategic place, and maritime heritage of India, increase regional security and ensure sustainable development for all stakeholders”.
“It forces economic cooperation, capacity building, disaster management, information sharing and environmental leadership.
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Upgrade from Sagar initiative, India’s PM Narendra Modi announced the Mahasagar – which is a mutual and overall progress for security in the areas, indicating further consolidation, “he said.
Sonowal also held a round table meeting with the Norwegian ship owners, and invited investment in the maritime sector of India.
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