Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has said that the indigenous development of hybrid and electric propulsion tugs is not only a technological advancement but also a symbol of India’s growing capability to lead the global green maritime movement. The minister unveiled advanced machinery at Cochin Shipyard to enhance shipbuilding capacity, remarking that this is a movement towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
The system allows real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and increased production efficiency, aligning with the objectives of the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy (SBFAP) 2.0. The project is being executed in collaboration with Robert Allan Ltd., the Indian Register of Shipping, and other global experts, marking a major step in India’s green maritime transition.
“Under his leadership, India’s maritime sector is scaling new heights – through world-class infrastructure, national expansion, and institutions like METI that are shaping the skilled maritime workforce of tomorrow,” Sonowal noted. The Union Minister also reviewed the progress of the construction of India’s largest Trailer Suction Hopper Dredger, being built by Cochin Shipyard for the Dredging Corporation of India.