India’s Green Maritime Odyssey

India’s Green Maritime Odyssey

 

 

India is transitioning its maritime sector towards sustainability to balance economic growth with environmental protection. With a long coastline rich in mangroves, coral reefs, lagoons, and biodiversity, ports are increasingly required to operate in alignment with global health, safety, and environmental standards. Renewable energy adoption, pollution control, waste management, and ecosystem protection have become central to port development.

 

Strategic Vision and Investments

• Maritime India Vision 2030 acts as a growth catalyst, projecting ₹3–3.5 lakh crore investment across ports, shipping, and inland waterways.
• Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 outlines a long-term roadmap with nearly ₹80 lakh crore investment for ports, green shipping, shipbuilding, coastal shipping, and inland waterways.
• Cargo handling at major ports reached 855 million tonnes (FY 2024–25), with port capacity expanding by nearly 87% over a decade.
• Average ship turnaround time has reduced to 48 hours, matching global benchmarks.

Green Energy and Clean Fuels

• Ports are mandated to increase renewable energy use under Renewable Purchase Obligations.
• Solar energy deployment includes rooftop installations, unused land, and floating solar plants.
• Wind energy expansion is planned through onshore, offshore, and breakwater-based projects.
• Pilot projects are planned for tidal energy (Gulf of Cambay/Kutch) and wave energy.
• Clean fuels such as green hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, and LNG are identified as future maritime fuels.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

• Targets 5 million tonnes annual green hydrogen production by 2030.
• Expected to attract ₹8 lakh crore investment, create 6 lakh jobs, and reduce fossil fuel imports.
• Kandla, Paradip, and Tuticorin ports identified as green hydrogen hubs.

Key Flagship Initiatives

• Harit Sagar – Green Port Guidelines (2023): Framework for carbon neutrality, ecosystem protection, and sustainable port development.
• Green Tug Transition Programme (2024): Shifts harbour tugs from fossil fuels to cleaner alternatives with financial support.
• Harit Nauka Initiative: Promotes green technologies in inland waterway vessels.
• Coastal Green Shipping Corridor: First corridor planned between Kandla and Tuticorin.
• Sagarmala Programme: 840 projects worth ₹5.8 lakh crore targeted for completion by 2035 to reduce logistics costs and enhance trade efficiency.

Cleaner Port Operations

• Target of 50% vehicle transition to CNG, LNG, or electric by 2030.
• Shore-to-ship power to reduce emissions during berthing.
• Electrification of port equipment in two phases covering cranes and cargo-handling vehicles.
• LNG bunkering promoted due to lower emissions, compliance with global sulphur norms, and cost advantages.
• Dust and air pollution monitoring systems being expanded across ports.

Green Belts and Environmental Protection

• Green belts act as carbon sinks, noise barriers, and biodiversity support systems.
• Environmental regulations mandate 33% green cover around ports.
• Focus on groundwater recharge, erosion control, coastal protection, and pollution absorption.

Legal and Institutional Reforms

• Indian Ports Bill, 2025 replaces the colonial-era framework with modern global standards.
• Emphasises disaster preparedness, sustainability, and international competitiveness.
• Nine Indian ports now feature in the World Bank Container Port Performance Index.

Global Partnerships and Dialogues

• Platforms such as Sagarmanthan promote global cooperation on blue economy and sustainable logistics.
• Green & Digital Maritime Corridors Dialogue held at JNPA, Mumbai.
• Collaboration with Singapore on green and digital shipping corridors.
• Green Shipping Conclave, Mumbai focused on decarbonisation and sustainable ship recycling.

Marine Pollution Control

• Robust oil-spill response systems with satellite monitoring.
• Sensitivity mapping of mangroves, corals, beaches, and aquaculture zones.
• Coordination with naval and environmental agencies for rapid response.

Conclusion

India’s maritime sector is undergoing a structural transformation driven by green technology, clean fuels, digital innovation, and modern governance. By integrating sustainability with trade efficiency and global cooperation, the country is positioning itself as a responsible maritime power and long-term steward of ocean ecosystems.

 

 

 

 

MCQ:

 

1. India’s Green Maritime strategy primarily aims to balance economic growth with which of the following?

(a) Expansion of naval power

(b) Environmental protection and sustainability

(c) Inland industrialisation

(d) Defence logistics only

 

2. Which long-term roadmap outlines nearly ₹80 lakh crore investment for India’s maritime sector?

(a) Sagarmala Programme

(b) Maritime India Vision 2030

(c) Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

(d) Coastal Regulation Framework

 

3. Maritime India Vision 2030 primarily functions as a catalyst for:

(a) Coastal tourism only

(b) Ship recycling activities

(c) Trade, investment, and employment

(d) Fisheries development

 

4. Which clean fuel is identified as a future cornerstone for zero-emission maritime transport?

(a) Diesel

(b) Furnace oil

(c) Green hydrogen

(d) Naphtha

 

5. Under the green energy strategy, which innovative solar installation method is proposed for ports?

(a) Desert solar farms

(b) Floating solar plants on calm waters

(c) Nuclear-powered solar units

(d) Offshore thermal plants

 

6. Which three ports have been identified as green hydrogen hubs?

(a) Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai

(b) Kandla, Paradip, Tuticorin

(c) Visakhapatnam, Ennore, Haldia

(d) Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kamarajar

 

7. The target year for producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually is:

(a) 2027

(b) 2028

(c) 2030

(d) 2047

 

8. The Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines primarily focus on:

(a) Increasing port tariffs

(b) Achieving carbon neutrality with ecosystem protection

(c) Expanding private port ownership

(d) Promoting inland shipping exclusively

 

9. The Green Tug Transition Programme aims to replace:

(a) Cargo ships

(b) Passenger ferries

(c) Harbour tugs using conventional fuels

(d) Fishing vessels

 

10. The first Coastal Green Shipping Corridor is planned between:

(a) Mumbai–Kochi

(b) Chennai–Kolkata

(c) Kandla–Tuticorin

(d) Visakhapatnam–Paradip

 

11. Under Sagarmala Programme, the total number of projects planned by 2035 is:

(a) 500

(b) 620

(c) 740

(d) 840

 

12. Indian ports aim to switch at least what percentage of vehicles to cleaner fuels by 2030?

(a) 30%

(b) 40%

(c) 50%

(d) 75%

 

13. Shore-to-ship power is mainly introduced to reduce:

(a) Noise pollution in cities

(b) Emissions from ships at berth

(c) Inland water salinity

(d) Cargo handling delays

 

14. Environmental regulations mandate approximately what proportion of green cover around ports?

(a) 20%

(b) 25%

(c) 30%

(d) 33%

 

15. The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 primarily seeks to:

(a) Privatise all major ports

(b) Replace outdated legal frameworks with modern global standards

(c) Restrict foreign investment

(d) Reduce coastal shipping activity