India, Norway to Deepen Maritime Ties with Focus on Green Shipping

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, held bilateral meetings with Norway’s Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen, during the Nor-Shipping event in Oslo.

The discussions focused on enhancing maritime cooperation between the two nations, particularly in green shipping technologies and digital transformation. Shri Sonowal highlighted India’s efforts to modernise its maritime sector with a sustainable focus and proposed greater collaboration in electrifying ferry systems, taking cues from Norway’s successful model.

Union Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the able leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is advancing port infrastructure, green shipping, shipbuilding, and digitalisation under ‘Maritime India Vision 2030’ and ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’. India is on a bold mission to transform its ports into global investment hubs, leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Green Energy integration. Our ports are not just gateways to trade—they are becoming catalysts of clean energy transitions, supporting offshore wind, green hydrogen, and low-carbon logistics.”

Building on the Green Coastal Shipping Programme and Green Voyage 2050, India and Norway discussed deeper collaboration in green maritime technologies. Both sides explored joint efforts in smart logistics, digital port ecosystems, and clean coastal shipping. India’s MAITRI initiative and Norway’s expertise in AI-driven port management, digital twins, and alternative fuels like LNG, hydrogen, and electric propulsion offer strong synergies to advance a sustainable Blue Economy.

Highlighting on the Indo Norway initiative in this regard, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal added, “We are also working in a big way on Green Shipping, Green Tug Transition, e-Methanol Bunkering, and hydrogen-powered vessels. India and Norway can continue this partnership and manufacture electric ferries and vessels for the emerging global demand in this sector. India is keen to partner with Norway for best practices in electrification of ferry system to optimise our rich and vast inland waterways. This will further our common goal of decarbonised and efficient transport system for smooth passage of cargo and passengers.”