Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), has announced the “Green Tug Transition Programme” (GTTP), in order to make India a “Global Hub for Green Ship Building” by 2030.
- The GTTP would convert all tugboats operating in India into “Green Hybrid Tugs,” running on non-fossil fuel like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.
- GTTP will first transform tugs into green hybrid tugs powered by hybrid propulsion systems, and thereafter adopt non-fossil fuel alternatives.
A tug (also known as a tugboat) is a crucial component of any port, aiding in the operation of mooring or berthing a ship by towing or pushing the vessel towards the port.
Measures taken by MoPSW & GoI:
i.The MoPSW has been promoting efforts towards self-reliance in green shipbuilding and the deployment of green solutions in all possible areas.
ii.The MoPSW has set a target to have the first green tugs operational in all major ports by 2025.
- Ports in India are classified as Major and Minor Ports according to the jurisdiction of the Central and State government as defined under the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
- Major Ports are owned and managed by the Union Government and Minor ports are owned and managed by the State Governments.
- Major Ports come under the administrative control of the MoPSW.
iii.As India strives towards attaining sustainable development, at least 50% of all tugs are anticipated to be converted into green tugs by 2030, significantly reducing emissions.
iv.With these measures, the Government of India (GoI) hopes to advance the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) -14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
- It calls for the conservation and responsible use of ocean-based resources as well as the management of marine and coastal ecosystems.
v.The GoI will also be developing a regulatory framework and a roadmap for the implementation of alternative technologies for green shipping in India.
Union Minister Sonowal Inaugurates India’s First National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping
Union Minister Sarbananda SonowaI, MoPSW, inaugurated India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS), a collaboration between the MoPSW, Government of India, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), an independent, not-for-profit research institute focusing on energy, environment, and sustainable development.
- The NCoEGPS, headquartered within the TERI campus in Gurugram (Haryana), will seek to uphold its pledges under the Paris Agreement.
Backdrop
In November 2022, MoPSW and the four entities under it (Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, VO Chidambaranar Port Authority, and Cochin Shipyard Limited) and TERI signed a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment of the NCoEGPS.
Role of NCoEGPS
i.The NCoEGPS will serve as the industry’s nodal organization for building green ships, guiding it towards carbon neutrality and a circular economy.
ii.NCoEGPS will serve as MoPSW’s technological arm, providing policy, research, and cooperation in green shipping areas to ports, DG Shipping, CSL, and other MoPSW-affiliated institutions.
iii.The NCoEGPS seeks to support “Make in India” in port, coastal, and inland water transport and engineering by creating cutting-edge technology and application products.
iv.The regulatory framework and roadmap for adopting alternative technologies for green shipping in India will be developed by the NCoEGPS.
v.The NCoEGPS will focus on 10 significant initiatives, notably creating a legal framework for using wind energy in marine applications and identifying a suitable biofuel for blending with conventional marine fuels.
Significant Indian Initiatives for the Green Transition of Indian Ports
i.The PM Gati Shakti—National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity—and the Green Ports initiative have already expedited India’s development of a green logistics supply chain.
ii.By 2030, the ports also aspire to reduce carbon emissions from cargo handling by 30%.
iii.India seeks to increase the share of renewable energy in each of its main ports from the current level of less than 10% to 60%.
iv.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the Maritime Vision Document 2030, a 10-year framework for India’s vision of a vibrant blue economy and a sustainable marine sector.
Global Recognition
i.Under the “IMO-Norway GreenVoyage2050 Project”, India has been selected as the first nation to perform a pilot project related to Green Shipping.
ii.The GreenVoyage2050 Project, launched in May 2019, is a partnership between the Government of Norway and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with the goal of transforming the shipping industry towards a lower-carbon future.
- The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), which is in charge of the safety and security of shipping, as well as the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution caused by ships.
iv.The MoPSW has already designated Paradip Port, Deendayal Port, and V.O. Chidambaram Port for development as Hydrogen Hubs, capable of handling, storing, and generating green hydrogen by 2030.
Recent Related News:
The MoPSW has constituted a High-Level Committee headed by Sanjay K. Mehta (SK Mehta), Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Gandhidham, Gujarat, to draft the revised guidelines for the operation of Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) and Roll on-Passenger (Ro-Pax) ferry service.
About International Maritime Organization (IMO):
Secretary-General – Kitack Lim (Republic of Korea)
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom
