In news- Inaugurating India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram,Haryana, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) said that India aims at becoming ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 with launch of GTTP.
What is GTTP?
- The programme will start with ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’, which will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and subsequently adopting non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen).
- The target has been set for the initial Green Tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025.
- At least, 50% of all the Tugs are likely to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030, which will considerably reduce emission as the country move towards achieving sustainable development.
Country’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS)-
- NCoEGPS is the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
- It aims to transform ports and shipping turn more Environment friendly.
- The centre is a major attempt by the Ministry towards realising Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE movement.
- With the NCoEGPS acting as the Nodal entity for the industry, the plan is afoot to make India as the ‘Global hub for building Green Ships’ by 2030.
- With these initiatives, the Centre is aimed at playing a crucial role towards achievement of UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) to sustainably manage and protect marine & coastal ecosystems from pollution, conservation & sustainable use of ocean based resources.
- The Centre will engage in developing the regulatory framework and alternative technology adoption roadmap for green shipping in India.
- The centre – housed within the TERI complex in Gurugram – will work towards meeting the obligations under the Paris Agreement.
- NCoEGPS will act as a technological arm of MoPSW for providing the needed support on Policy, Research and Cooperation on Green Shipping areas for Ports, DG Shipping, CSL and other institutions under the umbrella of MoPSW. The Center will be a host of several technological arms to support the port and shipping sector and will provide solutions to a variety of problems being faced in the industry through scientific research.
- It will also carry out valuable education, applied research and technology transfer in maritime transportation at the local, regional, national and International levels.
- It will focus on the following areas like energy management, emission management, Sustainable Maritime Operations etc.
- The NCoEGPS aims at empowering ‘Make in India’ in Port, Coastal and Inland water transport, and Engineering by developing state of art technologies and application products.
- It will also work towards identifying a fuel cell technology for long haul shipping as well as developing a regulatory framework for the transportation of hydrogen upto 700 bar pressure.
- It will also prepare detailed project reports on low energy consumption port, and on an offshore platform for tapping solar energy, production, storage and usage of green hydrogen.
Note-
- The PM Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for Multi Modal Connectivity along with the Green Ports initiative has already accelerated the development of green logistics supply chain in the country. The ports have also aimed to reduce Carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030.
- The Maritime Vision Document 2030, released by Prime Minister of India is a 10 Year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime sector and vibrant blue economy. India has been selected as the first country under the IMO 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 developed as Hydrogen Hubs – capable of handling, storing and generation of green hydrogen by 2030.