The MoU was signed by Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, and Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Group President and CEO, DNV, during SMM in Hamburg (4th and 5th from left).

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg last week, DNV and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a new strategic collaboration on advanced shipbuilding, digitalization, green technologies and competence development, supporting the growth of India’s maritime and defence sectors.

Under the agreement, DNV will support GRSE by providing classification and technical advice on naval, defence, and specialized vessels as well as offering regulatory insights on evolving maritime regulations and international naval standards. The collaboration will cover areas including modular construction, design optimization, and the development of advanced vessels such as autonomous platforms, next-generation offshore patrol vessels and polar research vessels. DNV will also provide advisory support to help enhance GRSE’s repair and refit infrastructure to serve both domestic and international naval clients.

In addition, the two organizations will also collaborate on the development of electric and hybrid propulsion ferries, low-carbon naval auxiliary vessels, and pathways for alternative fuels including hydrogen and ammonia. The agreement further includes lifecycle emissions assessments and support for compliance with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and international environmental standards.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, DNV CEO, said: “Shipbuilders are being asked to make long-term decisions against a backdrop of geopolitical tension and market unpredictability, and that uncertainty is one of the biggest concerns we hear across the industry. But this also creates opportunities for innovation and to develop new capabilities, across the whole maritime value chain. We have a relationship with Indian shipping and shipbuilding that spans more than five decades now, are very pleased to be working with a future focussed partner like GRSE as they work to develop advanced shipbuilding design, processes and systems for customers locally and abroad.”

Cmde P R Hari, Chairman and Managing Director, GRSE, said: “This is a partnership focused on innovation, sustainability and global excellence - contributing to a stronger and more self-reliant Indian maritime and defence ecosystem.”

DNV will also contribute its expertise in areas such as AI-enabled ship design, digital twins and cybersecurity. The partners will also run joint training programs for GRSE professionals, Indian naval architects and surveyors, working to strengthen India's maritime supply chain and building capacity, particularly for the Eastern Indian maritime cluster.