राष्ट्रीय हरित पत्तन एवं पोत परिवहन उत्कृष्टता केन्द्र

National Centre of Excellence in Green Ports and Shipping

The Indian government is initiating a significant push to enhance the domestic production of merchant vessels, aiming to substantially reduce its reliance on foreign ships for trade. This strategic move is driven by a recognition that a robust "Made-in-India" merchant fleet is crucial for national energy security and global trade resilience. The move stems partly from a realization that a large fleet of merchant ships made in India is required, since foreign ships that transport merchandise to and from India may choose to stay away in case of an emergency. The government also feels that becoming a maritime power is an essential part of being a “developed nation” something that the government hopes to become by 2027.

Decarbonisation costs could have a marginal effect on consumer prices even if shipping rates were to double their current levels. Carbon pricing is essential to overcome the green cost premium and drive cost-efficient decarbonisation at a trivial cost to consumers. The international nature of shipping and aviation means that products like iron, steel, and chemicals are traded at an international level without a global regulatory body. The IMO's agreement to introduce charges of up to $380/tonne of emissions above an agreed threshold is not perfect, with emissions expected to be cut by around 8% by 2030. The EU has already started the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent "carbon leakage" and maintain competition between domestic and foreign suppliers.

According to climate research group Solutions For Our Climate (SFOC), the capacity on the water aggregated with newbuilding tonnage will, if operated at 12 voyages a year, enable the release of more CO2e emissions, of mainly the potent greenhouse gas methane annually than the US. The SFOC report reveals that the global LNG carrier fleet contributes to approximately 12.7 billion metric tonnes of CO2e emissions annually, more than double the US emissions of 5.96 billion tonnes in 2023 and 80% of similar emissions from China. The report also highlights that shipping companies do not account for the lifecycle emissions of the LNG cargo they transport, despite reporting their direct operational and supply chain emissions.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has imposed a 2024 Maritime Single Window mandate, requiring all member states to adopt a centralized digital platform for collecting and exchanging information with vessels arriving at ports. This move aims to streamline procedures for ship arrival, stay, and departure, enhance shipping efficiency, and accelerate modernization of ports, particularly for small to mid-sized ones. The mandate aims to revolutionize operations, improve efficiency, and prepare ports for future global shipping challenges.

India is set to launch its first domestic coastal green shipping corridor in an effort to decarbonize maritime logistics. The strategic route, connecting Kandla on the west coast with Thoothukudi (V O Chidambaranar Port) in the south, is expected to be operational within the next three to six months, according to the Union Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways T K Ramachandran. The corridor is being jointly developed by the V O Chidambaranar Port Authority and the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, in partnership with the state-run Shipping Corporation of India. The corridor's design prioritizes green fuel availability, with ports producing, storing, and distributing methanol to power two retrofitted vessels operated by the Shipping Corporation of India.