India Rises as a Green Shipbuilding Hub with Government Initiatives, Report

According to Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, a maritime expert at DNV, India has the potential to become a hub for green shipbuilding due to the government’s focus on alternative fuels and renewable energy. Indian shipyards are being modernized and older dockyards are being assessed for reopening or expanding capacities to meet the growing global demand for green maritime assets. The government is encouraging investments and technology transfer from Japanese and Korean shipyards to establish shipbuilding and repair clusters in India, in line with the International Maritime Organization’s goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

DNV, a Norway-based testing and certification provider, has been actively involved in India’s maritime industry, publishing a white paper on the ‘Indian Coastal Green Shipping Programme’. This paper explored how India can reduce carbon emissions and transition towards green shipping, drawing on Norway’s successful Green Shipping Programme. DNV has also expanded its maritime advisory unit in India, providing local clients with expertise on decarbonization, digitalization, safety, risk management, and compliance.

Santa Maria highlighted the agreement with the Mumbai Port Sustainability Foundation as a significant step towards developing and modernizing port infrastructure to support cleaner energy sources. The Indian government aims to be among the top shipbuilding nations by 2030 and top five by 2047, emphasizing the importance of upgrades to port infrastructure for green shipping fuel and hybrid vessels operating on alternative fuels. DNV’s workforce in India has grown significantly, and the group plans to expand further to support new contracts and businesses in the rapidly evolving maritime industry.

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