A team from the international association of ports and harbors (IAPH) will visit Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) to learn about their participation in “decarbonization ports and shipping”. The MPA initiated the Harit Shrey program in October 2023, offering green ship incentives to promote ships with lower CO2 footprints, a first in India. The IAPH delegation coming to Goa on February 27 aims to study the port’s strategies and potentially implement similar initiatives globally.
During their visit, the delegation will discuss the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) initiative and assess its implementation in ports worldwide. They also plan to engage with key stakeholders in Goa. Initially, ships with an ESI score of 30 or more received incentives, but the system was revised on December 1 to only require a score of 20 for eligibility. Since the program’s launch, only eight ships have qualified, with operators receiving approximately 92,000 rupees in incentives.
MPA Chairman N Vinodkumar noted challenges in implementing the system, such as the lack of standardized documentation for ship ESI values. Many agents were unaware of where to find ESI points, requiring awareness campaigns. High upfront costs for green technology adoption and unclear environmental standards also hindered system expansion. The delegation’s exploration of environmentally friendly shipping incentives at Mormugao Port was highlighted in the Maritime Gateway, a prominent portal in South Asia.
