Kochi hosts a conference on maritime sector challenges and solutions, focusing on decarbonization, inland transport, and shipbuilding.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, in collaboration with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), recently concluded a two-day conference in Kochi, Kerala, focused on ‘Challenges and Prospective Solutions in Inland Waterways and Shipbuilding.’ Held from April 23rd to 24th, the conference brought together state departments, industry experts, and stakeholders to address critical issues within the maritime sector.
The event featured four informative sessions, emphasizing the imperative of decarbonizing the maritime industry and tackling challenges in inland water transport and shipbuilding. Participants actively engaged in discussions, highlighting key challenges and suggesting government interventions to expedite the shift of cargo transportation to waterways and bolster domestic shipbuilding.
R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of MoPSW, remarked, “The conference successfully facilitated enriching discussions encompassing India’s key priorities, including the Green Transition of Inland Waterways, the establishment of a dedicated Sectoral Maritime Development Fund, promoting domestic shipbuilding, etc., as envisioned in the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.”
The inaugural session spotlighted MoPSW’s efforts towards decarbonization in the inland waterways sector, focusing on the deployment of green hydrogen fuel cell inland vessels. Varanasi has been chosen as the pilot location for immediate deployment on NW-1, with plans for expansion based on pilot learnings. Additionally, discussions revolved around the potential of methanol as a green fuel for EXIM vessels, with plans to explore the indigenous development of methanol marine engines.
The conference also addressed the pressing financing needs of India’s shipping sector, highlighting the substantial investment requirements outlined in the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Despite the significant financing needs, challenges such as the non-availability of long-term funding and fixed sectoral lending limits persist, hindering sustainable growth.
In response, MoPSW is actively working on establishing a dedicated Maritime Development Fund to address the unique funding requirements of the maritime sector, aiming to propel holistic development and address financing challenges.
The conference also featured a tour of the Kochi Water Metro and projects under IWAI, emphasizing efforts to bolster river cruise tourism, urban water transport networks, and coastal shipping.
Day 2 of the conference saw stakeholders from various sectors convene to address challenges and explore interventions aimed at optimizing cargo movement and boosting the modal share of Inland Water Transport (IWT).
The final session focused on India’s shipbuilding capacity, highlighting the nation’s current global ranking and heavy reliance on foreign fleets. Discussions centered on policy reforms and interventions needed to boost the Indian fleet size and ownership, with aspirations to become one of the top 5 shipbuilding nations by 2047.
With a strategic focus on expanding ship ownership responsibly, India aims to unlock significant commercial opportunities within the shipbuilding sector.
