: Mumbai, February 20, 2025

The Directorate General of Shipping, MoPSW, Government of India, in collaboration with  Institute of  Marine Engineers (India) – Mumbai Branch, hosted the second edition of the Green Shipping Conclave 2025 in Mumbai today. This event focused on India's commitment to advancing sustainability in the maritime sector, in alignment with international decarbonization goals.

In the address Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal outlined India’s commitment to sustainable maritime practices. He emphasized initiatives like the Green Tug Transition Programme and Harit Nauka (Green Vessel) Initiative, which focus on adopting low-emission and alternative fuel-powered ships. India is also developing Green Gateways with the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines and is leading global efforts in sustainable ship recycling through the Alang Ship Recycling Program. The ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund is catalyzing green investments, positioning India as a leader in sustainable shipping and maritime infrastructure. He elaborated that Green Energy is the driving force behind this transition. The future of maritime transport lies in clean fuels—green hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, and LNG. India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission is paving the way for zero-emission fuels, ensuring that our ports are not just fueling trade, but also fueling a sustainable future.

Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Shri. Arsenio Dominguez highlighted praised India’s proactive role in tackling carbon emissions, marine plastic pollution and underwater noise. He reaffirmed the IMO’s commitment to supporting India’s maritime training initiatives, capacity-building programs and regulatory compliance efforts to enhance global maritime sustainability. In his keynote address, acknowledged India’s strategic role in global shipping, highlighting its contributions towards sustainable maritime development, alternative energy solutions, and international regulatory collaboration.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur outlined India’s commitment to sustainability through the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047. He highlighted India’s support for the IMO 2023 Revised GHG Strategy and emphasized government initiatives, including the ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund and schemes for shipbuilding and shipbreaking to boost green maritime growth. Director General of Shipping , Shri Shyam Jagannathan highlighted the maritime sector's contribution to global emissions and stressed the need for innovation in alternative fuels and technologies for decarbonization. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to green maritime policies as part of its COP26 climate pledge.

The conclave served as a high-impact platform for policy dialogues, technical discussions, and roundtable meetings, engaging key stakeholders from the industry, government, and academia. Among the significant discussions, the IMO Secretary-General chaired a CEO Round Table on Renewable Energy, focusing on clean fuel investments and green port infrastructure. The Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister held a strategic meeting with the IMO Secretary-General, reinforcing India's commitment to advancing maritime sustainability and contributing to IMO’s long-term environmental goals. Additionally, a Stakeholder Round Table chaired by the Hon’ble Minister of State facilitated discussions with shipowners, managers, and seafarer representatives, ensuring a collaborative approach towards India’s green transition in the maritime sector.

The technical and policy sessions at the conclave were to address the aspects of sustainable maritime development. The policy discussions focused on port decarbonization, green financing mechanisms, and international cooperation for reducing maritime emissions, while the technical sessions explored smart ship technologies, AI integration in shipping operations, and circular economy principles in ship recycling. A special session, “Women in Maritime - Sagar Mein Samman,” emphasized the role of gender inclusivity and workforce diversification in India’s maritime sector.

The Green Shipping Conclave witnessed participation from government representatives, industry leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders, all working towards a unified vision for a sustainable maritime ecosystem.

JPS/EC/PM

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