India has set its sights on becoming a global hub for green shipbuilding by 2030. To achieve this, the country has launched a Green Tug Transition Programme, which aims to make all major ports environmentally friendly by 2025. The announcement was made by Ayush Shri Sarbananda SonowaI, India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, at the inauguration of India's first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping in Gurugram, Haryana.
The programme will begin with green hybrid tugs, powered by green hybrid propulsion systems, before moving on to non-fossil fuel solutions such as methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. The goal is for at least 50% of all tugs to be converted to green tugs by 2030, reducing emissions as India works towards achieving sustainable development.
Making India's ports and shipping more environmentally friendly is a vital part of the country's efforts to become carbon-neutral by 2070. The Maritime Vision Document 2030, a ten-year blueprint for India's vision of a sustainable maritime sector and vibrant blue economy, outlines the country's plans to cut carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030.
India has been chosen as the first country under the International Maritime Organization's Green Voyage 2050 project to conduct a pilot project related to green shipping. The ministry has already identified Paradip Port, Deendayal Port, and V.O. Chidambaram Port to be developed as hydrogen hubs capable of handling, storing, and generating green hydrogen by 2030.
The development of this crucial infrastructure will enable India to export green hydrogen, produced in the country using renewable sources, with the support of the National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping in technology and market leadership. Green hydrogen is expected to play a critical role in India's National Green Hydrogen Mission strategy, with the country aiming to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tonnes per annum.
Shipping is being targeted as part of the first stage of the phased transition approach, alongside steel production, long-haul and heavy-duty mobility. Under the strategy, India's oil and gas public sector undertakings will need to charter at least one ship each powered by green hydrogen or derived fuels by 2027. Thereafter, they will need to add at least one ship powered by these fuels for each year of the mission.
In addition, India plans to establish green ammonia bunkers and refuelling facilities at least at one port by 2025. By 2035, all major ports in the country are expected to have ammonia bunkering facilities in place. These efforts demonstrate India's commitment to promoting sustainable and green shipping practices and reducing its carbon footprint, leading the way for other countries to follow.India launches Green Tug Transition Programme to make all major ports environmentally friendly by 2025, aiming to become a global hub for green shipbuilding by 2030.
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