Indian ports unprepared to meet future green fuels demand – DNV
Indian ports need to scale up supply infrastructure to boost availability and uptake of green fuels, according to a white paper published by classification society DNV.
PHOTO: Two container ships berthed at a container terminal in Cochin in the Indian state of Kerala. Getty Images
Most Indian ports lack basic infrastructure for high port productivity, such as modern cargo handling equipments and telecommunication systems. Due to obsolete port infrastructure, plans to develop green bunker and power infrastructure have yet to be put into motion.
The ports have not implemented basic infrastructural upgrades. DNV points out that shore power connectivity, which is already becoming popular in major global ports, has not been rolled out in any Indian ports.
A national port infrastructure program can be established to promote production, distribution and bunkering of current and upcoming green fuels such as bio-LNG, liquid biofuels, ammonia and hydrogen. Bigger cargo volume ports such as Deendayal, Paradip and Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust can collaborate with industry partners to establish green shipping infrastructure, the report says.
DNV recommends that by green pilot projects can be run on short-sea shipping routes and inland waterways. The pilot projects can build trust in new green technologies and fuels. However, DNV argues that these pilot projects will require government funding,
Currently, coastal and inland waterways transport accounts for 6% of India’s total transport fuel mix. A major chunk of the coastal fleet is made up of tugboats, followed by bulk carriers and general cargo ships.
By Nithin Chandran
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