Oslo: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with top Norwegian ministers on the sidelines of the Nor-Shipping event in Oslo to deepen India-Norway maritime cooperation. The talks focused on advancing green maritime technology, digital port infrastructure, shipbuilding collaboration, and joint exploration of the Blue Economy.
During his meetings with Norway’s Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Shri Sonowal outlined India’s bold vision under the ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’ and ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’—an ambitious push towards green ports, low-emission shipping, and digital transformation of maritime operations.
“India is on a bold mission to transform its ports into global investment hubs, leveraging PPP models and clean energy. Our ports are evolving as critical hubs for green hydrogen, offshore wind, and low-carbon logistics,” said Sonowal. He emphasised India’s commitment to sustainable shipping and expressed strong interest in Norway’s electrification of ferries, proposing joint manufacturing of electric vessels to meet growing global demand.
Both sides discussed intensifying collaboration under India’s Green Coastal Shipping Programme and the Green Voyage 2050 initiative. India’s MAITRI platform (Maritime AI Transformation and Research Initiative) and Norway’s advancements in AI, digital twins, and alternative marine fuels were cited as strong complementarities.
Sonowal also proposed deeper cooperation in hydrogen-powered vessels, e-Methanol bunkering, and green tug transition—areas where both nations are investing heavily to decarbonise maritime transport. He called for Norwegian support in ferry system electrification, especially to enhance India’s inland waterway networks.
In a separate meeting with Fisheries and Ocean Policy Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss, discussions covered a broad spectrum—ship recycling, seafarer training, offshore hydrocarbons, ocean renewable energy, and sustainable fisheries. Highlighting Gujarat’s Alang Ship Recycling Yard, Sonowal invited Norwegian expertise in upgrading environmental and safety standards for sustainable ship-breaking.
“Norway has been a valued partner for India. The recent EFTA-India Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement reaffirms our robust economic ties and shared commitment to sustainable development,” said Sonowal.
On shipbuilding, both nations agreed to leverage Norway’s cutting-edge design expertise and India’s industrial shipyard capabilities to co-develop eco-friendly vessels for global markets. They also explored avenues for collaboration in ocean management, including deep-sea exploration and marine spatial planning.
India expressed interest in training partnerships to build maritime human capital—particularly in polar operations, advanced navigation, and cybersecurity. The Union Minister also highlighted India’s efforts to promote gender equality through the ‘Saagar Mein Samman’ initiative to increase the participation of women in seafaring roles.
A key strategic proposal from India was to jointly study the feasibility of operationalising the Northern Sea Route (NSR) with Indian and Norwegian agencies. This initiative aims to foster safe and sustainable Arctic navigation, focusing on R&D in ice-class vessel design, navigational technologies, and mitigation of environmental risks in harsh polar environments.
“Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Viksit Bharat and a sustainable Blue Economy, India is keen to turn today’s discussions into tangible, impactful partnerships. Together with Norway, we can drive innovation and inclusive growth in the global maritime ecosystem,” concluded Sonowal.
