<p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-525" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="3,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">KOCHI</b> — In a major technological leap for sustainable inland water transport and maritime automation, state-owned shipbuilding leader Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), in coordination with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), has accelerated advanced open-water trials for its indigenously engineered class of zero-emission, battery-electric autonomous cargo barges</span><span data-path-to-node="3,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="3,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="4" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-526" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="4,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The specialized shallow-draft vessels are undergoing navigation, battery endurance, and automated handling assessments along National Waterway-3 (NW-3) and the coastal backwater channels connecting Kochi, Kottapuram, and Kollam</span><span data-path-to-node="4,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="4,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Autonomous Navigation Suite and Remote Command Integration</b></p><p data-path-to-node="7" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-527" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="7,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Building on CSL’s engineering expertise in executing export-grade electric and autonomous vessels for European markets, the next-generation e-barge architecture integrates advanced AI-driven navigation and collision-avoidance technology tailored for dense inland waterways</span><span data-path-to-node="7,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="7,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="8" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,0,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-528" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,0,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Multi-Sensor Situational Awareness:</b> The barge platform features an integrated sensor matrix comprising solid-state marine radar, high-definition 3D LiDAR scanners, infrared thermal imaging, and computer-vision optical cameras</span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,0,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,1,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-529" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Autonomous Path Planning:</b> Onboard machine-learning algorithms process hydrodynamic data, narrow-channel bathymetry, tidal currents, and live traffic telemetry in real time to execute automated unberthing, fairway navigation, speed regulation, and precision docking without human intervention</span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,1,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="8,2,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-530" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="8,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Shore Control Center (SCC) Redundancy:</b> Operational oversight is linked via high-throughput satellite and 5G private networks to a centralized Shore Control Center located at CSL’s marine engineering facility in Kochi, enabling shore-based captains to assume remote manual override if required</span><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="8,2,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="10" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="10" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Modular Swappable Battery Architecture and Zero Emissions</b></p><p data-path-to-node="11" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-531" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="11,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">To overcome channel turnaround bottlenecks and eliminate deadweight charging delays, the e-barges utilize a containerized, modular energy storage framework</span><span data-path-to-node="11,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="11,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="12" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="12,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="12,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">High-Capacity LFP Battery Packs:</b> Outfitted with specialized Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) marine battery container modules providing operational ranges of up to 120 kilometers on a single charge under fully laden conditions.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="12,1,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="12,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Rapid Swappable Battery Stations:</b> Quayside charging infrastructure allows empty battery containers to be swapped out by automated terminal cranes in under 15 minutes, ensuring 24/7 fleet utilization along designated industrial water corridors.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="12,2,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-532" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="12,2,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="12,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions:</b> Operating entirely on electric propulsion, each operational barge eliminates diesel exhaust emissions, preventing localized greenhouse gases, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides&nbsp;along ecologically sensitive river basins and coastal waterways</span><span data-path-to-node="12,2,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="12,2,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul><p data-path-to-node="14" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="14" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Multimodal Hinterland Integration and Logistics Cost Compression</b></p><p data-path-to-node="15" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-533" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="15,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The autonomous electric barge series is specifically dimensioned to navigate the lock gates, low-clearance bridges, and shallow navigational drafts of National Waterway-3 (NW-3)</span><span data-path-to-node="15,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="15,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">:</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="16" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="16,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="16,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Container Drayage Bypass:</b> Capable of hauling up to 60 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) or 1,200 metric tonnes of palletized and bulk industrial cargo per trip, the barges provide a direct waterborne link between inland manufacturing zones, industrial chemical plants, and the deepwater container berths at Cochin Port and Vallarpadam ICTT.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="16,1,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-534" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="16,1,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="16,1,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Overland Decongestion:</b> Migrating heavy container traffic from the congested NH-66 and NH-544 road corridors onto electrified river channels cuts container drayage costs by up to 25% while easing municipal highway wear and traffic bottlenecks</span><span data-path-to-node="16,1,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="16,1,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c652880515="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="16,2,0" id="p-rc_6e8e5dc970219d37-535" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span data-path-to-node="16,2,0,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="16,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Alignment with Harit Nauka Directives:</b> The initiative directly advances the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ <i data-path-to-node="16,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="119" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Harit Nauka</i> guidelines and India’s <i data-path-to-node="16,2,0,0" data-index-in-node="154" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047</i> roadmap, establishing an indigenous, scalable blueprint for electrifying cargo transport across National Waterways nationwide</span><span data-path-to-node="16,2,0,1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><source-footnote _nghost-ng-c4109436689="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c4109436689="" class="superscript" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></span><span data-path-to-node="16,2,0,2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.</span></p></li></ul>