'Harit Sagar' Green Port Guidelines Launched To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Goal

Envisaging ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation and maintenance while aligning with the ’Working with Nature’ concept, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines.

The guidelines aim to meet the larger vision of achieving the Zero Carbon Emission Goal while minimising impact on biotic components of the harbor ecosystem.

It lays emphasis on use of Clean/Green energy in Port operation, developing Port capabilities for storage, handling and bunkering Greener Fuels viz Green Hydrogen, Green Ammonia, Green Methanol/Ethanol etc.

The guidelines were launched by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH in the august presence of Shripad Y Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism and other senior officials of the Ministry today in New Delhi.

These Guidelines provide a framework for the Major Ports for drawing out a comprehensive action plan for achieving targeted outcomes in terms of quantified reduction in carbon emission over defined timelines, through focused implementation and close monitoring of Green Initiatives and to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

During the event the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, ‘Ports are undertaking green initiatives and actively contributing to the fulfillment of the "Panchamrit" commitments announced by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW said, "Our four major ports Deendayal Port, Visakhapatnam Port, New Mangalore Port and VOC Port are already generating more renewable energy than their demand.

From now onwards our ports will be able to evaluate themselves on the environmental indicators to know their capability in the environmental aspects".

The major ports were conferred awards for their all time best performance on select operational and financial parameters during FY 2022-23.

Ports having registered highest incremental improvements were also honored and they were ranked on the basis of their overall performance during 2022-23.

The idea is to generate fair and healthy competition amongst the major ports and motivate them to perform better in the coming year.

The award for the best Absolute Performance for the year 2022-23 conferred to the Deendayal Port, Kandla for handling highest cargo of 137.56 MMT.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port received an award for achieving a major milestone in Turn Around Time while Paradip Port got a performance shield on Ship Berth Day Output.

The Kamarajar Port got recognised in pre-berthing detention time while Cochin Port received a performance shield in turn-around-time (non-container port).

The award for best incremental performance was bagged by Paradip Port for attaining the highest cargo growth rate of 16.56 per cent last year.

In the incremental category another award was conferred to Mormugao Port for best Ship Berth Day Output while award was conferred to Kamarajar Port for best Pre-Berthing Detention time.

The award for the best port was conferred to Paradip Port on overall annual performance based upon cargo handling, average turnaround time, ship birthday output, and idle time at berth, operating ratio, pre berthing detention.