At India Maritime Week 2025 held in Mumbai, India and Norway reaffirmed their growing maritime and ocean cooperation.

About the India–Norway Maritime Partnership

• The partnership is rooted in the shared objective of sustainable ocean governance and decarbonising global shipping.
• India’s strengths: Shipbuilding, recycling, digital maritime innovation, and skilled workforce.
• Norway’s strengths: Advanced maritime technologies, green shipping solutions, and expertise in ship design, financing, and insurance.
• Both nations view oceans as global commons, with a shared responsibility to promote environmental stewardship and economic opportunity.

Recent Developments and Institutional Framework

• India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
• • Entered into force on October 1, 2025.
  • Enhances cooperation in shipping, logistics, marine technology, and trade facilitation.
• India–Norway Ocean Dialogue (2019): Established a formal mechanism for collaboration on sustainable ocean management, marine pollution control, and the blue economy. 
  • Operated through the India–Norway Task Force on Blue Economy.
• Joint Working Group (JWG) on Maritime Cooperation (2025): Discussed cooperation in: 
  • Green shipping and low-emission fuels.
  • Maritime training and safety standards.
  • Ship recycling and sustainability initiatives.

Areas of Ongoing Cooperation

• Green Shipping and Decarbonisation:
  • Norway aims to cut emissions from domestic shipping and fisheries by 50% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
  • Advocates stricter international climate regulations through the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
  • Promotes low- and zero-emission fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen, and electric propulsion systems.
  • Norway’s notable innovations include Yara Birkeland (world’s first autonomous, zero-emission ship) and ASKO ferries (fully electric vessels).
• Shipbuilding and Industrial Cooperation:
  • India’s rising global shipbuilding capacity offers new partnership opportunities.
  • Around 10% of ships ordered by Norwegian Shipowners’ Association members are built in India.
    • Example: Cochin Shipyard recently secured 14 vessel orders from Norway’s Wilson ASA.
  • Both nations cooperate on safe and sustainable ship recycling under global environmental norms (e.g., Hong Kong Convention, 2009).
  • Maritime Workforce and Training:
  • Indian seafarers are the second-largest nationality working aboard Norwegian-controlled vessels.
  • Under TEPA, both nations agreed to facilitate on-board training for seafarers.
  • Cooperation extends to capacity building, certification, and maritime education.
• Maritime Workforce and Training
  • Indian seafarers are the second-largest nationality aboard Norwegian-controlled vessels.
  • Under TEPA, both countries will enhance onboard training, certification, and capacity-building programmes.
• Gender Equality and Inclusion in Maritime Sector
  • Norway has supported the Maritime SheEO Conference since 2019, promoting women’s participation in the maritime industry.
  • Indian women seafarers, cadets, and captains showcased at the 2025 event highlight growing inclusion in the maritime workforce
  • Both countries aim to make the maritime workforce more inclusive and future-ready through shared best practices.
• Strategic Convergence:
  • India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal 2047 share Norway’s focus on sustainability and digital innovation.

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About Maritime India Vision 2030

• Launch: In 2021, by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to modernize India’s maritime sector and strengthen its global competitiveness by 2030.
• Objective: To position India among the top global maritime nations through capacity enhancement, technological advancement, and sustainable port-led growth.
• Major Focus Areas:
• • Port modernization and capacity augmentation.
  • Development of smart, green, and sustainable ports.
  • Coastal shipping and inland waterway expansion.
  • Port-led industrialization under Sagarmala initiative.
  • Enhancement of shipbuilding, recycling, and repair ecosystems.

Maritime Industry in India

• India has 12 major and ~200 non-major ports.
• Approximately ~95% of trade by volume and 68% by value handled via maritime transport.
• In FY24, all major ports handled 817.97 million tonnes (MT) of cargo — up 4.45% from FY23.

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