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Varanasi gets India’s first indigenous hydrogen fueled passenger ship, Sonowal flagged off

By Samira Vishwas

Varanasi11 December. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the commercial operation of the country’s first completely indigenous hydrogen fueled passenger vessel into river Ganga at Namo Ghat here on Thursday.

The vessel is the first vessel in India to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell propulsion in a marine environment and utilizes completely indigenous technology. It operates on a low temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell system, which converts stored hydrogen into electricity and emits only water as a by-product.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarbananda Sonowal said, ‘Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is witnessing a transformational shift towards clean, sustainable and self-reliant transportation systems. The launch of our first indigenous hydrogen fueled vessel is an excellent example of this vision of the Prime Minister.

He said, ‘This achievement reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘Make in India’ and the shift towards green transportation across sectors. This achievement also strengthens our broader mission of restoration and conservation of the sacred Ganga. By promoting clean technologies on waterways, we are not only encouraging innovation but also ensuring that growth goes hand in hand with our responsibility towards the environment. “Today’s achievement reflects the Prime Minister’s unwavering resolve to build a green and prosperous maritime future for our nation.”

Cochin Shipyard Limited has prepared this vessel

Owned by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the vessel is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). The vessel will enter service after completion of trial operations. This initiative is in line with the Government’s commitment to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070 and supports the efforts of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote clean, sustainable fuels in India’s inland waterways.

The launch of the hydrogen fueled vessel into commercial service is a significant milestone in India’s efforts towards building a cleaner and more sustainable marine ecosystem. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Sonowal, IWAI is promoting the adoption of advanced green technologies and alternative fuels under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Sonowal further said, ‘The successful deployment of this hydrogen fueled vessel reflects our Ministry’s deep commitment to accelerate India’s transition towards clean and sustainable waterways. I congratulate Cochin Shipyard Limited for providing this pioneering vessel and the Inland Waterways Authority of India for putting it into commercial service after various trials.’

A big step towards net-zero waterways under the leadership of Modi government

He said, ‘This achievement is a testament to our resolve to meet India’s net-zero targets by 2070 and integrate cutting-edge green technologies into the inland water transport sector. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s long-term roadmap of transformative Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, we are continuously shaping a modern, energy-efficient and environmentally responsible maritime ecosystem for the country.’

24 meter long catamaran with air-conditioned cabin 50 can carry passengers

Designed for urban transportation, this 24 meter long catamaran can carry 50 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin and travels at a speed of 6.5 knots. Its hybrid energy system combines hydrogen fuel cells, batteries and solar power, allowing it to run for up to eight hours on a single hydrogen fill. This vessel is certified by the Indian Register of Shipping.

To commission the pilot vessel FCV Pilot-01, IWAI, Cochin Shipyard Limited and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited have entered into a tripartite agreement outlining technical support, operation and monitoring. The agreement includes provisions for financial terms, security procedures, monitoring mechanisms and periodic inspections during the pilot phase.

Local tourism and employment opportunities are also likely to get a boost.

Hydrogen fueled vessels launched in Varanasi bring many important benefits to urban water transport, including noise-free travel for passengers and pilgrims, only water emissions smoke free, pollution free, and reduction in road congestion due to faster movement through waterways. It is also likely to boost local tourism and employment opportunities, with Varanasi becoming one of the first cities in the world to adopt hydrogen-powered passenger transport.

The guests traveled five kilometers from Namo Ghat to Lalita Ghat.

The first-ever vessel carried a group of ministers, senior officials and others on a five-kilometre journey from Namo Ghat to Lalita Ghat, marking the first commercial operation of a hydrogen fueled passenger vessel on the river Ganga. Along with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, several eminent leaders were present, including Ravindra Jaiswal, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Government of Uttar Pradesh, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh and Dr. Daya Shankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’, Minister of State (Independent Charge). Several MLAs – Awadhesh Singh, Neelkanth Tiwari, Dr Sunil Patel, Saurabh Srivastava, Anil Rajbhar, Neel Ratan Singh and Tribhuvan Ram – and Varanasi Municipal Corporation Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari were also present. Apart from this, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Vijay Kumar, IWAI President Sunil Paliwal and senior officials were also present.

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