Russia is considering a partnership with India to jointly manufacture polar-class vessels, according to Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Denis Manturov. He described joint production of Arctic-class ships as a promising new area of cooperation, citing ongoing discussions with India’s ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways.
Russia is a global leader in building polar cargo ships equipped with advanced ice-breaking technology for Arctic conditions. The move comes as both nations seek to enhance trade via the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Eastern Maritime Corridor, connecting Vladivostok to Chennai. Manturov highlighted ambitions to establish a stable Eurasian transport framework between the countries.
Talks remain at an early stage, with the India-Russia Joint Working Group recently raising the shipbuilding proposal. Russian logistics giant Delo Group is reportedly interested in joint ventures, though the Indian shipping ministry has yet to receive formal proposals involving state-owned shipyards.
India’s shipbuilding sector has been expanding, with Cochin Shipyard recently securing an international order for dual-fuel vessels and GRSE signing a deal to build India’s first indigenous Polar Research Vessel. Meanwhile, the Chennai-Vladivostok route is operational, primarily transporting crude oil and coking coal, with efforts underway to diversify cargo.
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