Green Tug Transition Program & initiatives for green shipping

Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has launched the Green Tug Transition Program which will help in India’s aim of becoming Global Hub for Green Ship by 2030.

SALIENT FEATURES OF GREEN TUG TRANSITION PROGRAM

• Launched by Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
• The program 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 and Hydrogen. Initial Green Tugs will start working in all major ports by 2025.
• At least, 50% of all Tugs are likely to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030, considerably reducing emissions at India. 

Tugboat or Tugs

• A tugboat or tugs are marine vessels that manoeuvre ships by pushing or pulling them, mostly using tow lines.
• These boats are known to tug ships in circumstances where the latter cannot or does not move using its own power. For ex in narrow harbours, canals etc.

NATIONAL CENTRE of EXCELLENCE in GREEN PORTS & SHIPPING (NCoEGPS)

Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) in partnership with The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI) are establishing will help India’s transition towards green shipping & green ports in Gurgaon, Haryana in TERI Complex. 

Functions of National Centre of Excellence in Green Ports & Shipping

• Act as a nodal agency for the industry for India’s Global hub for building Green Ships by 2030 program.
• Acts as a technological arm of MoPSW for providing the needed support on policy, research and cooperation in Green Shipping areas for Ports, Directorate General of Shipping, 
• Host several technological arms to support port & shipping sector and provide solutions to a variety of problems being faced in shipping industry through scientific research. 
• Carry out valuable education, applied research and technology transfer in maritime transportation at local, regional, national & international levels.
• Focus areas: Energy management, Emission management, Sustainable Maritime Operations etc. and enable fast-track innovations to provide solutions to challenges in these sectors.
• Create a pool of manpower for green shipping industry.

Ten Initial Projects of NCoEGPS

• Developing a regulatory framework for use of wind energy for marine applications.
• Identifying a suitable biofuel for blending with conventional marine fuels.
• Identifying a fuel cell technology for long haul shipping
• Developing a regulatory framework for transportation of hydrogen up to 700 bar pressure
• Detailed project report on low energy consumption port
• Detailed project report on offshore platform for tapping solar energy.
• Detailed project report on production, storage and usage of Green Hydrogen

Other Major Projects for India’s Transition to Green Shipping

• Transition towards renewables: India intends to increase share of renewable energy to 60% of total power demand at each of India’s major ports through solar and wind generated power. At present, about 99% of energy demand for coastal shipping sector is met by fossil fuels with fuel and marine gas oil (MGO).
• Shore to ship power (electrification of ports): 50% of port equipments will be electrified by 2030 and all ports shall supply shore power to all visiting ships in a three-phased manner. Currently, India is already supplying shore power to ships with power demand less than 150 kW.
• Ports to reduce Carbon emissions per ton of cargo handled by 30% by 2030. 
• Maritime Vision Document 2050 released by MoPSW 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 IMO Green Voyage 2050 Project of a pilot project related to Green Shipping. 
• India will be implementing IMO energy efficiency requirements for existing ships and carbon intensity requirements on all its vessels whether coastal or international to help achieve IMO GHG reduction targets. 
• India is working with Marine Environmental Protection Committee of IMO to help devise acceptable requirements for GHG emission in line with IMO GHG initial strategy. 
• Adoption of mechanised mode of dry bulk handling, increasing green belt coverage, conversion of diesel RTGCs to electric or hybrids to reduce pollution in ports. 
• Storage & bunkering facilities for environment friendly fuels like LNG, CNG, Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia etc. Under the National Hydrogen Mission, MoPSW has identified Paradip Port, Deendayal Port (Kandla), V. O. Chidambarar Port in (Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu) to be developed as Hydrogen Hubs i.e., capable of handling, storing and generation of green hydrogen by 2030. 

GREEN VOYAGE 2050 PROJECT

• It is a joint project of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Norway to support developing countries in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions from ships and implementing IMO Strategy ON Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships and Ports. 
• IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships aims to reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. Carbon intensity of international shipping to decline to reduce CO₂ emissions per transport work by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050 compared to 2008. Use of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships to strengthen energy efficiency design requirements.  
• IMO resolution on ports encourages shipping and port sectors to cooperate for reducing GHG emissions from ships. This will be done by Onshore Power Supply, Safe & Efficient bunkering.
• Green Voyage Project will strengthen MARPOL Annex VI compliance, facilitate sharing of operational best practices, catalyse uptake of energy efficient technologies and explore opportunities for low and zero-carbon fuels. 
• IMO is the executing authority and Norway will provide funding for the project. 
• India has been selected as the first country under IMO Green Voyage 2050 Project of a pilot project related to Green Shipping. 

Components of Green Voyage 2050 Project

• Undertake an assessment of maritime emissions in national context.
• Develop policy frameworks & national action plans (NAPs) to address GHG emissions from ships.
• Draft legislation to implement MARPOL Annex VI into national law.
• Assess emissions and develop port-specific emission reduction strategies.
• Identify opportunities and deliver port projects, through the establishment of public private partnership & mobilisation of financial resources.
• Establish partnerships with industry to develop new & innovative solutions to support low carbon shipping. 
• Partner Countries: Green Voyage 2050 Project is working with 12 countries: Azerbaijan, Belize, China, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka. 

GLOBAL INDUSTRY ALLIANCE TO SUPPORT LOW CARBON SHIPPING (LOW CARBON GIA)

• It is a public private partnership under the framework of IMO-Norway Green Voyage 2050 Project that aims to bring together maritime industry leaders to support an energy efficient and low carbon maritime transport system. 
• Leading shipowners & operators, classification societies, engine and technology builders and suppliers, big data providers, oil companies and ports have joined hand under Low Carbon GIA to collectively identify and implement solutions for uptake and implementation of energy efficiency technologies, operational best practices and alternative low and zero carbon fuels. 

Workstreams of Low Carbon GIA are:

• Energy efficiency technologies (EETS) & operational best practices.
• Alternative low and zero-carbon fuels.
• Addressing emissions at ship-port interface.

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)

• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for measures to improve the safety & security of international shipping and prevent pollution from ships. 
• It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and facilitation of international maritime traffic. 
• It came into existence in 1959. 
• The IMO Assembly consists of all Member States and is the highest governing body of the Organization. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the IMO’s financial arrangements. 
• IMO Council is elected by the Assembly for terms of two years. It acts as the Executive Organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.  

• IMO has five main Committees: 
  • Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)   
  • Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 
  • Legal Committee 
  • Technical Cooperation Committee 
  • Facilitation Committee 
• Currently, IMO has 175 member states and 66 intergovernmental organisations (observer status).
• Organisation is led by the Secretary General supported by Secretariat.
• Headquartered at London. 

INITIATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE SHIPPING UNDER INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION

1. ANNEX VI OF MARPOL CONVENTION: IMO adopted a Annex VI to it MARPOL Convention to address air pollution from ships. It addresses:

• Main air pollutants contained in ships exhaust gas such as sulphur oxides (SOX) and nitrous oxides (NOX) and prohibited deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances. 
• Regulates shipboard incineration and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from tankers. 
• Promotion of energy efficiency of ships – intended to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. (Added in 2011). This introduced compulsory energy efficiency components to ship design and management, promoting use of less polluting equipment and engines. From 2023, it is mandatory for all ships to calculate their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) to measure their energy efficiency and calculate their carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating. 
• Lower limit on sulphur content in fuel oil (Added in 2020). This measure was introduced because most ships were using fuel oil with a much higher sulphur content compared to other fuel sources. Implementation of this new limit would result in 77% reduction in sulphur oxide emissions from ships.

2. IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (2018) aims to reduce total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008. Carbon intensity of international shipping to decline to reduce CO₂ emissions per transport work by at least 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2050 compared to 2008. Use of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships to strengthen energy efficiency design requirements.  
3. IMO resolution on ports encourages shipping and port sectors to cooperate for reducing GHG emissions from ships. This will be done by Onshore Power Supply, Safe & Efficient bunkering.
4. Green Voyage Project will strengthen MARPOL Annex VI compliance, facilitate sharing of operational best practices, catalyse uptake of energy efficient technologies and explore opportunities for low and zero-carbon fuels. 
5. Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA): Oceans areas of ecological, socio-economic or scientific significance can be granted special protection status of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA). PSSA status recognises that the area may be vulnerable to damage by international maritime activities and protection measures such as compulsory routeing of ship to avoid these areas may be enacted. 
6. Addressing Biofouling: Biofouling is the process of accumulation of various aquatic organisms in ships’ hulls. Through the process of biofouling, invasive aquatic organisms can be introduced to new marine environments affecting marine biodiversity, coastal properties & infrastructure, fisheries and ocean renewable energy.
   1. IMO has found GloFouling Partnership to raise awareness, foster R&D, share best practices and help promote technical solutions for biofouling. 
   2. Ballast Water Management Convention, 2004 is international maritime treaty ensures that flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with standards and procedures for management & control of ships ballast water and sediments.