The first port in India to introduce green ship incentives, the Mormugao Port Authority, Vasco, is aiming to become an environment-friendly port of the future, finds out Shoma Patnaik
In the limelight for its air-polluting cargo, the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), Vasco, is targeting to transform itself into a green port of India.
In October last year, MPA became the first port in India to introduce green ship incentives wherein discount on port dues is offered to green award certified vessels. The green incentives under the Harit Shrey scheme of the union government are for ships that are energy efficient and with good Environment Sustainable Index (ESI) scores.
The scheme is working well and is being extended to trucks plying in the port. “Presently MPA is in the process of decreasing its carbon footprint and achieving sustainable, environment-friendly port operations,” said MPA, chairman Vinod Kumar.
“With coal and iron ore as the major cargo, it is accepted that MPA will have carbon emissions during operations. Acknowledging that we pollute and leave a carbon footprint is the first step in making the port go green,” says Kumar. He said that the port commissioned a study by the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, to arrive at its carbon footprint.
As per the report, MPA is emitting 32,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). “It is a very low emission as compared to the Rotterdam port which has an emission of 22 million tons. Yet 32,000 tons of CO2 is a big number for us and we are working on reducing it,” said Kumar.
He said that MPA is planning to reduce its carbon footprint through using clean energy and other measures. “Installation of a 3 MW solar plant in the next four months will reduce the emission by 10 percent straight away,” pointed out Kumar. In the coming months the port will seek stakeholders’ cooperation to take forward its green plans and fulfill the goal of becoming sustainable in the future, explained the chairman.
He said that the port’s environmental parameters to measure its sustainability are as per the norms laid down by the International Association of Ports & Harbour (IAPH), Tokyo.
MPA’s berths 5,6 and 7 are used to transport coal. “The movement of coal in the three berths is by conveyors. The coal cargo is completely covered and there is a silo loading. All technologies are in place to reduce the coal dust pollution. The only problem is whenever the wind speed is high the dust gets dispersed,” discloses Kumar. He adds that a dorm is under construction by South West Port Pvt Ltd (SWPL) of JSW, which operates two berths. The dorm is expected to come up by mid-2025.
“MPA is also in discussion with Adani Port, which operates the third coal berth to come up with a similar dorm to control the pollution. In that way, all three berths handling coal will have dorm structures in the future to tackle pollution. Coal needs to be imported in India, and with MPA one of the ports where imports take place a dorm structure will reduce the pollution challenge,” said Kumar.
The port’s decision to shift liquid cargo of petroleum products to berth 8, is also a part of the plan of being ecology conscious. “Previously import of POL products were handled in berth 10 and 11, which is closer to the population. Currently, the movement of liquid cargo is through berth 8, which is located inward. In the berth MPA has invested Rs 18 crore to augment the firefighting capability,” said the MPA chairman.
The smallest major port of India, MPA has been asked by the Ministry of Ports and Inland Waterways, to conduct a study on how 5G can revolutionize the port sector. “The ministry wants to bring in more IoT-based smart devices to monitor vessel movement,” disclosed Kumar.
MPA in 2023-24, witnessed a 19 percent jump in cargo traffic, to 21 million tons from 17.3 million tons in the previous year, due to a rebound in operations. The port is targeting a similar surge in performance this year.
“Two-thirds of the port’s cargo movement takes place in the second half of the year. As of now, the port is doing good with the April- August period equal to last year,” said Kumar. He said that the coming six months will decide whether the port will match its performance of last year.
Built-in 1885, MPA is one of the oldest major ports of India. The port has 11 berths, of which berths 1-4 handle cruise vessels, berths 5-6 is operated by JSW, while berths 7 is of Adani Port. MPA uses berth 8 for imports of POL products. The berths 10 and 11 are being developed under PPP mode. “Berth 9 is the only berth which is presently free. Discussions are on whether to give it out to Goa Shipyard Ltd, or use it for cargo purposes,” said the chairman.
The port’s green initiatives also include a Rs 4 crore pipeline for the transport of treated water. The port will use the treated water for settling dust.
