India has a vision for a sustainable maritime sector & vibrant blue economy: Minister

Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways & AYUSH, chaired the meeting of the Consultative Committee of MoPSW in Mumbai this week.  It was attended, among others, by Mr Arvind Sawant, MP, Mr Manoj Kotak, MP and Ms Geetha Vanga, MP.  

In his inaugural address, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal said India intends to increase the share of renewal energy to 60 per cent of the total power demand at each of its Major Ports from the present share of less than 10 per cent. 

The Maritime India Vision 2030 is a 10-year blueprint on India’s vision for a sustainable maritime sector and vibrant blue economy, and the Ministry has undertaken various green port initiatives at the Major Ports so that their environmental issues are addressed properly, he added. 

Thereafter, Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, PSW, made a presentation on General Overview of the MoPSW and also a PPT on “Green Ports and Green Shipping”.

Mr Sudhansh Pant said that ports aim to reduce carbon emissions, per tonne of cargo handled, by 30 per cent by 2030 and have initiated various activities that would help in bringing down greenhouse gas emissions from the port and shipping sector.  This would help achieve the targets set by the government for making the maritime sector green and sustainable.

Under the Sagarmala programme, 160 projects costing Rs 10,901 crore have been identified in 12 States/UTs, which are being implemented by concerned Central Ministries, State Governments/Administrations, ports and other agencies.

To enhance the share of green shipping, various projects are being implemented by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, India’s largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility. These include green urban mobility solutions like hybrid electric ferries, autonomous zero-emission vessels, pilot project on hydrogen fuel cell ferry, electric catamaran water taxi, hybrid electric RoRo, hybrid LNG-electric inland cargo carrier, hybrid tugs, etc.  

Mr Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for PSW, in his address outlined the Ministry’s roadmap for achieving the targets.  The Chairman, MbPA and Chairman, JNPA clarified some of the doubts raised by the members.       

Concluding the meeting, the Minister said that India would be able to complete the projects by 2035 and will be the base for providing such facilities in the maritime sector. Suggestions given by the members during the meeting would be taken into account, he added, as per a release.