The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways launched ‘Harit Sagar’, the Green Port Guidelines in May 2023. In this article, you can learn more about green ports, the new Harit Sagar green port guidelines and their significance for the IAS exam economy, infrastructure and environment segments.
What is a Green Port?
A green port is a port that invests in and encourages environmentally friendly and sustainable operations in all formats of the ports and maritime industry.
- This could be done by transitioning to Net Zero Carbon and/or reducing emissions or adopting processes that would improve efficiency.
- These ports adopt green technologies and low and zero-carbon fuels for power-intensive terminal equipment, in-port vessel operations and ship bunkering (refuelling).
- Some of the pioneering examples of green ports are the Port of Genoa (Italy), Port of London (England), Port of Los Angeles (USA), Port of Hamburg (Germany), etc.
- Haldia Port in West Bengal is the first green port in India.
Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023
‘Harit Sagar’ contains the guidelines which aim to achieve Green Ports in the country.
Objectives
- Ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation and maintenance.
- Aligning with the ‘Working with Nature’ concept.
- Minimizing the impact on biotic components of the harbour ecosystem.Â
Green Port Guidelines Features
- Emphasis on the use of green energy across activities viz. port operation, developing port capabilities for storage, handling and bunkering of greener fuels, for example, green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol/ethanol, etc.
- Provides a framework for the major ports for drawing out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in carbon emissions.
- Implementation and monitoring of green Initiatives to align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Major Goals
- To reduce trash through the four R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle to achieve zero waste discharge.
- Adopting the international Green Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard and covering parts of the National Green Hydrogen Mission related to ports, the creation of green hydrogen facilities, LNG bunkering, offshore wind energy, etc.Â
- Promoting monitoring based on Environmental Performance Indicators.
A tug or a tugboat is a boat that aids in the mooring or berthing operation of a ship by towing or pushing the vessel towards the port. Under the Green Tug Transition Programme, the tugboats used in ports would be converted to ‘green tugs’ that run on non-fossil fuels such as methanol, hydrogen or ammonia.
Aim of GTTP: To become a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 and reduce emissions as the country moves towards achieving sustainable development.
More on the development:
- The first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana was inaugurated.
- The programme will start with ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’, powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems.
- Eventually, non-fossil fuel solutions like Methanol, Ammonia, Hydrogen, etc. would be adopted.
- At least half of all the tugs are to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030.
Significance
- It will help in achieving multiple objectives such as ‘make in India’, greater business opportunities to become carbon neutral by 2070 and a greener environment.
- It will also help in achieving the UN’s SDG 14 to sustainably manage and protect marine & coastal ecosystems from pollution, conservation & sustainable use of ocean-based resources.
Know more about the Green Tug Transition Programme in the linked article.
Green Ports [UPSC Notes]:- Download PDF Here
| Related Links | |||
| Major Ports in India | National Hydrogen Mission | ||
| National Green Hydrogen Mobility Project | Green Hydrogen Policy 2022 | ||
| Sagarmala Project | Chabahar Port | ||
Comments