V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has taken a significant step towards decarbonizing port operations with the procurement of a state-of-the-art fully electric tug. The initiative is part of the Government of India’s ambitious Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), aimed at replacing diesel-powered tugs with low- and zero-emission alternatives.
VOCPA has awarded the contract to Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd. (KMEW) for the supply of a 60-tonne Bollard Pull, fully electric green tug. The tug, valued at ₹385.76 crore, will be delivered within two years. The contract also includes operation and maintenance for 15 years, marking one of the largest green tug investments by a major Indian port.
Under the GTTP, major ports are mandated to transition their fleets to clean propulsion systems such as battery-electric, Green Ammonia, and Hydrogen-based tugs. VOC Port joins the first wave of five ports implementing this shift, alongside Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, New Mangalore Port Authority, and Visakhapatnam Port Authority.
Fully electric tugs can reduce emissions by up to 100%, while hybrid variants achieve 25–35% reduction—drastically improving the environmental footprint of port operations.
This initiative directly aligns with the vision outlined by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in India’s Panchamrit commitments at COP26, which include raising non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, meeting 50% of energy requirements through renewables by 2030, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, lowering carbon intensity by 45% by 2030, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
In line with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has mandated major ports to accelerate this green transition, positioning India as a frontrunner in sustainable maritime operations.
Sharing his views, Shri Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, VOC Port Authority, noted that the port currently operates three diesel tugs—one with 45-tonne Bollard Pull and two with 50-tonne capacity. “By advancing the transition to clean energy in port operations, VOC Port reaffirms its commitment to environmental sustainability and green maritime development,” he said.
The introduction of electric tug technology at VOCPA marks a pivotal milestone in India’s journey toward greener, smarter, and more efficient port operations.
