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Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP)

  • 23 Mar 2023

On 22nd March 2023, India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways inaugurated India's first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana.

  • 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).
  • Target has been set for the initial Green Tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025.

The aims of the programme include:

  • Making India the global hub for building green ships by 2030.
  • To convert 50% of all tugs into green tugs by 2030.
  • To achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) of sustainably managing and protecting marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution and conserving and sustainably using ocean-based resources.
  • Developing a regulatory framework and technology adoption roadmap for green shipping in India to meet the obligations under the Paris Agreement.

The expected benefits of the programme include:

  • Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The primary benefit of using Green Hybrid Tugs is that they significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional tugs powered by fossil fuels.
  • Methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen are all low-carbon fuels (used by Green Hybrid Tugs) that emit far less carbon dioxide and other pollutants than diesel or gasoline.
  • By adopting these non-fossil fuel solutions, the maritime industry can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
  • Improved Air Quality: Traditional tugs powered by fossil fuels also emit harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which contribute to poor air quality and pose health risks to both people and wildlife.
  • Green Hybrid Tugs powered by non-fossil fuels emit significantly lower levels of these pollutants, improving air quality in port areas and reducing health risks.
  • Advancement of Sustainable Development: It is a step towards sustainable development in the maritime industry. As the industry continues to grow, it is essential to find ways to reduce its environmental impact and ensure that it is sustainable in the long term.

Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted in December 2015 at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France.

The objective of the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.