India is set to inaugurate its first domestic coastal green shipping corridor, aimed at decarbonizing maritime logistics. This strategic route will connect Kandla on the west coast with Thoothukudi (V O Chidambaranar Port) in the south, expected to be operational in three to six months, as mentioned by T K Ramachandran, Union Secretary at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
The corridor is a collaborative effort between the V O Chidambaranar Port Authority and the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla, alongside the state-run Shipping Corporation of India. Recent discussions among senior officials focused on refining the operational framework and ensuring a timely launch.
Plans are also underway to expand this initiative to international routes, exploring links between Kandla and European ports, as well as connecting Singapore to India via the VOC Port. A key aspect of the corridor is the promotion of green fuels, with ports set to generate, store, and distribute alternatives like methanol, which will power retrofitted vessels on the Kandla-Thoothukudi route.
Notably, the VOC Port is the first to produce green hydrogen on a small scale, while Kandla port aims for 1 MW production by March next year. Discussions also covered using container ships operating on green methanol and developing the necessary bunkering infrastructure.
Share it now
