Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched, country’s first indigenously built hydrogen-powered boat virtually. The launching ceremony was organised in Thootthukkudy, Tamil Nadu. Live programme was arranged in Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). It is the part of the union government’s ambitious programme to stop the greenhouse emulsions by 2070 and a project to adopt hydrogen as the effective maritime fuel. As a result, the people get a ferry which does not emit any polluting gas. Thus, it contributes to the international endevours to reduce the impact of the global warming.
The technology of the hydrogen powered boat has been the result of the researches carried out by CSL. The entire funding for the research was done by the CSL. The first boat was built for the Inland Waterways Authority of India.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Prime Minister said that the building of the hydrogen-powered boat was a great leap forward to the boat transport industry. The realm of transport in the country which did not have coordination among various sectors, is now moving ahead in unison. Road, water and air transports are now jumping into the new horizons of development. In this regard, several tasks were accomplished in time-bound manner. Several things remain unfulfilled. PM said, he is committed to fulfill them during his third term.
CSL’s CMD Madhu S. Nair said, during the occasion, that this is a step forward along with the country’s march to reach the position of the third economic force in the world. He said, this boat will be taken to Varanasi after a month and it would be used there for river traffic. Building of fifteen more boats is on the agenda. MoU has been signed, in this respect, with the Inland Waterways Authority. They will be deployed in Kochi, Kollam, Varanasi, Guvahati, Goa and Thane. Then 1000 more boats will be built.
At the moment, US, Japan and China are the only players in this sector. Building coast of the boat is Rs 18 cr. Department of Shipping shouldered 70% of the total coast. KPIT Technologies developed the hydrogen fuel cell. The air-conditioned boat is 45 meters long. Capacity is 50 passengers. It does not cause any pollution including sound. Efficiency and eco-friendliness join hands here. Maintenance job is comparatively less.
CSL officials said, the boat is a great step towards using hydrogen as a maritime fuel as envisaged by National Green Mission. It will give Bharat a competitive edge globally as it is the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the arena of fastest maritime transport. It will be an impetus to the efforts to achieve the goal of net zero emission.
