HSL aims to achieve autonomy in designing, building e-tugs by 2026

♦ HSL’s initiative is aligned with govt’s focus on renewable energy and green transportation

♦ E-tugs will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector

♦ HSL’s initiative is also expected to create new jobs and boost the local economy

Visakhapatnam: In an effort to become a trend-setter, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) a defence public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence (Defence Production) has taken a pioneering initiative in spearheading the development of an eco-friendly e-vessel ecosystem.

The yard, established wayback in 1941 in the private sector and later transferred from the Ministry of Shipping to the Ministry of Defence recognising its strategic location, is keen on achieving a transformative leap towards greener footprints in the maritime sector. While India has many green vessels operating in its waters viz. small ferry crafts and solar water metro craft, a high-power green tug used for harbour movements of large vessels is altogether a different game. Being on the higher end of the complexity spectrum, mastering the art of managing high energy flows in a high power tug amounts to having the capability to design and build green vessels of any size and type.

With a vision to make India a Global Hub for Green Ships by 2030 slated to come up for discussion at the Global Maritime India Summit slated for October 17-19 in Mumbai,

With the aim of making India a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ by 2030 by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), HSL has unveiled an action plan to develop the ability to build e-tugs and achieve autonomy in designing and construction by 2026. HSL Chairman and Managing Director Commodore (retd) Hemant Khatri is very keen on taking the lead in switching over to the e-vessel ecosystem.

The Ministry has announced a vision on likely conversion of at least 50 per cent of tugs into green tugs by 2030 under “Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP)”. In a laudable initiative towards this direction and in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for a sustainable maritime sector and vibrant blue economy, HSL has decided to develop a thriving e-vessel ecosystem before the deadline by acquiring the ability to build e-tugs and to achieve autonomy in designing and building e-tugs. Sources said in order to achieve “Sampoorna Atmanirbharatha” in e-vessels, HSL is collaborating with various R&D, industry and academic institutions for phase-wise development of various major systems of e-vessels, namely energy management system, energy storage system with battery management system, high power electronics, high efficiency axial flux motors and propulsion control systems and playing a lead role as an integrator of their collective efforts.

Towards matching the international benchmarking in build time and further to condense the build time to 8-12 months, HSL is going with modular concept and developing a family of e-tugs with bollard pull capacity ranging from 40 tonne to 80 tonne and beyond with a wide range of options including compatibility for using green alternative fuels based on the diverse operational requirements of customer. In addition, with a view to build a vibrant ancillary ecosystem centered around Visakhapatnam, HSL is planning to include a few promising industries based in Visakhapatnam and coastal districts to participate in the program, get exposure to new technologies and be part of a thriving ancillary system.