Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) and Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI) have entered into a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in the tugboat sector, enhancing India’s port operations and promoting greener maritime services. The agreement was signed by MOL President & CEO Takeshi Hashimoto and SCI Managing Director Binesh Kumar Tyagi during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai on October 27.
As India’s economy continues to grow, maritime activity is expected to rise significantly, with container volumes projected to increase by 6–8% annually and energy cargo by 3–5% over the next decade. This intensifying vessel traffic underscores the need for efficient tugboat operations to ensure safe berthing and unberthing at ports.
Aligned with this growth, the Indian government’s Green Tug Transition Program aims to convert all tugboats at major ports into eco-friendly “Green Tugs” by 2040, a crucial step towards sustainable operations. MOL, which operates tugboat services in Japan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, will contribute its expertise in safety management and alternative fuel technologies.
Together, MOL and SCI aim to enhance India’s tugboat infrastructure, improve port efficiency, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector.
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