Last week, the Indian government introduced new guidelines for the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP) as part of its Green Shipping Policy. This initiative aims to phase out the harbor tugs operating in major Indian ports that run on conventional fuels and replace them with eco-friendly tugs that run on cleaner and more sustainable alternative fuels.
The Green Shipping Policy programme was announced in May 2023 and consists of five major initiatives focusing on green shipping and digitization of Indian ports. One of the landmark initiatives under the programme is the 30 per cent financial support to the Ministry of Ports and Shipping to promote green shipping in India.
The GTTP will be implemented in phases, with the first phase scheduled to begin in October and continue till December 2027. During this phase, four major ports – Jawaharlal Nehru, Deendayal, Paradip and VO Chidambaranar – will procure or charter at least two green tugs each. The designs and specifications of the tugs will be issued by the Standing Specification Committee (SSC).
However, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal clarified that the first batch of tugs will be battery-powered and will have the option to adopt other emerging green technologies like hybrid, methanol and green hydrogen. The minister estimated that the first phase of the programme will cost around $119 million.
“The GTTP is a key initiative to realise our vision of a sustainable and green maritime sector in India. The programme also strengthens our commitment to ‘Make in India’ and promotes domestic innovation and manufacturing in the maritime industry,” said Shri Sarbananda.
The tugs will be built in Indian shipyards as part of the government’s initiative to promote the domestic shipbuilding industry. This will also help in job creation.
In addition, the government has set a target for all tugboats operating in major Indian ports to switch to green fuels by 2040. This is in line with India’s green ports policy, which calls for a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per tonne of cargo by 2030 and 70 percent by 2047.
