<p data-path-to-node="5">Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="60">Sarbananda Sonowal</b> chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the operational progress of <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="153">Green Shipping Corridors</b> and evaluate the infrastructure readiness for <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="224">alternative marine fuels</b> across India's Major Ports.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">The comprehensive review centered on accelerating the implementation of the <b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="76">Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines</b> and the <b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="118">National Green Hydrogen Mission</b>, focusing on developing scalable bunkering, handling, and storage ecosystems for clean fuels such as <b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="251">green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and LNG&nbsp;</b>to position Indian maritime gateways as global green fuel bunkering hubs along major East-West shipping lanes.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Strategic Roadmap</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9"><li><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Green Shipping Corridor Implementation:</b> The Ministry evaluated ongoing bilateral and multilateral initiatives to establish designated zero-emission and low-carbon maritime trade routes connecting Major Indian Ports such as Deendayal (Kandla), Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar (Tuticorin) with international trading partners.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Alternative Marine Fuel Bunkering Hubs:</b> Sonowal reviewed technical master plans and pilot projects for setting up dedicated shore-side bunkering facilities and storage terminals for green ammonia, green methanol, and compressed hydrogen to service next-generation dual-fuel commercial vessels.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Scaling Up Portside Renewable Energy:</b> Major Port Authorities presented operational roadmaps to achieve over 60% renewable energy share across their total power consumption by 2030, driven by the expansion of captive on-grid solar parks, near-shore and offshore wind arrays, and electrified cargo-handling equipment.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Mandatory Shore-to-Ship Power (Cold Ironing):</b> The review emphasized the rapid operationalization of high-voltage shore power supply systems at container and cruise berths, allowing berthed vessels to shut down auxiliary diesel generators and eliminate quayside exhaust emissions.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="9,4,0"><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Incentivizing Green Tonnage &amp; Indigenous Shipbuilding:</b> The Ministry reaffirmed policy support under the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and inland vessel modernization programs to promote the design and construction of electric, hybrid, and alternative-fuel vessels by domestic shipyards.</p></li></ul>