Mumbai: State-Nun Cochin Shipyard Limited will cut steel to construct two green tugs in its own account on Monday, but hopefully they will be converted into contracts with fleet owners, who currently win charter deal from major ports owned by the government for at least four electric tugs, a top official said.
'In terms of reducing the overall (construction) period after a firm contract is signed, the Board of Cochin Shipyard has approved the construction of two 60-Ton Bollard Pul Green Tugs. Both these tugs are currently being made on our own account. Cochin Shipyard told ET Infra, “It is an expectation to convert them into contracts with customers after the completion of the tendering process at major ports.
The steel cutting function, which marks the onset of the construction of a ship, will be held in the presence of the ports, shipping and waterways Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Last week, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and VO Chidambaranar Port Authority, two -owned state -owned, two and one electric green tug, respectively, from the owners of the fleet, for 15 years under the government's Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP), for 15 years, two and one for renting two and one electric green tug.
Earlier, the Dandeli Port Authority called the fleet owners to charter an electric green tug for 15 years.
Paradip port pro.
The tender issued by Deendayal Port Authority has attracted the proposals of six groups, including State-Run Shipping Corporation of India Limited, Polstar Maritime Limited and Netlin Marketing Private Limited (Repley Group).
Gyan Marine and Engineering Works Private Limited, San Marine India Private Limited and Underwater Services Company Limited (Samson Maritime Limited) have also filed their qualification papers and price quotes, when the deadline ended on March 27, several sources said.
India's Shipping Corporation and Polstar Maritime are expected to manufacture an electric green tug for a dendelled port contract in Cochin Shipyard Limited if they win the tender.
Important for port operations such as harbor tugs, birthting, unabening, and ship assist functions, are ideal candidates for adopting green technologies such as electric propulsion and alternative fuel, which can cut emissions significantly while maintaining operational efficiency.
In August 2024, the Ministry of ports, shipping and waterways took a major step for India's commitment to environmental stability and a major step for the advancement of its maritime, from traditional fuel-based port tugs to greenery, from traditional fuel-based port tugs to greenery for GTTP.
GTTP is designed to phase the traditional fuel-based harbor tugs working in major ports owned by the state and is replaced with a green tug of cleaner and more durable alternative fuel.
The first phase of GTTP will run through December 2027, during which four major ports – Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Dandayal Port Authority, Pardip Port Authority, and VO Chidambarnar Port Authority – will buy at least two green tugs or charter with some investment of Rs 1,000 crore.
The first set of green tugs will be a battery-electick, which will provide provisions to adopt other emerging green technologies such as hybrid, methanol and green hydrogen, with the development of the industry.
By the end of 2040, all tugs working in major ports are imagined in green tugs, ensuring a standardized, environmentally friendly fleet across the country.
