India climbs indigenous green hydrogen shipbuilding mission

In a major step towards permanent maritime transport, India announced its first green hydrogen-operated ships, Union Minister, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday (August 8, 2025) in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday (August 8, 2025).

MP Kesinni Shivnath received a response after raising a question about the development of hydrogen-based ships.

The Union Minister revealed that Cochin Shipyard Limited and Mezagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited were currently manufacturing a ship, which was fully operated by hydrogen fuel cells developed using indigenous technology.

He said that these efforts align with the government’s comprehensive vision to promote environmentally friendly fuel options and reduce pollution in maritime transport.

To support green infection, the Center had placed Crore 115 crore under the National Green Hydrogen Mission for a period of 2025–26. These funds will be used for ship design, technology testing, infrastructure development and pilot projects.

Green hydrogen ship initiative was being implemented in two stages. The first phase focuses on re -establishing existing vessels to work on hydrogen fuel, while the second phase includes the development of the infrastructure of hydrogen fuel filling at major ports.

Major agencies such as Shipping Corporation of India and VO Chidambernar Port Authority (VOCPA) were named as implementation partners. Vocpa had already prepared a project proposal for the 750 cubic meter green methanol bunkering facility in Tuticorin, which was one of the selected places for the development of Green Hydrogen infrastructure.

Other ports such as dendial port, Paradip port and tuticorin port were also being developed as a hydrogen hub, to convert these features to centers of production and export of green hydrogen as part of the government’s roadmap.

The Union Minister said, “These strategic steps will not only enhance India’s use of clean and renewable fuel, but will also help reduce the pollution levels in sea routes significantly,” the Union Minister said that the bold initiative taken by the Central Government will place India at the forefront of Green Hydrogen Technology and will set a platform for a cleaner, a cleaner, a cleaner.