V.O. Chidambaranar Port Positions Itself as a ‘Key Enabler’ of India’s Green Maritime Transition

New Delhi:

Port Wings News Network:

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority has taken another significant step towards advancing India’s green maritime transition, with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) launching its policy brief titled “Positioning V.O. Chidambaranar Port for Maritime Decarbonization” at the India Clean Transportation Summit 2026, held in New Delhi on 1 September 2026.

The policy brief was launched during the session titled “India’s Maritime Transition in a Net Zero World: Positioning India for the Next Era of Global Shipping” by Ketan Gore, Researcher, ICCT, in the presence of Amitabh Kumar, Ex-DG Shipping and Independent Director, The Great Eastern Shipping Company; Josefine Pallesen, Maritime Counsellor, Embassy of Denmark; A. Ramasamy, Chief Mechanical Engineer, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority and Capt. Prashant S. Widge, Executive Director, Smart Freight Centre – India.

The ICCT policy brief provides strategic pathways to further strengthen these initiatives by establishing stronger linkages between green fuel production and maritime offtake, translating the objectives of the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines into actionable measures, engaging with the Global Maritime Forum’s green shipping corridor network, and exploring reliable pathways for the supply of green fuels to the shipping sector.

The ICCT assessment highlights the potential of V.O. Chidambaranar Port to emerge as a green shipping corridor node on the India–Europe trade lane, leveraging its strategic location along the East-West maritime shipping route connecting the Indian Ocean with the Suez Canal and European ports.

It also identifies opportunities for the Port to engage with EU-connected shipping operators, strengthen green-fuel offtake and bunkering arrangements, and build partnerships with international ports and stakeholders to support the development of a green shipping corridor.

The ICCT assessment is among the early independent research assessments focusing on the green-fuel readiness of an individual Indian port and provides valuable direction for strengthening port-led maritime decarbonisation and connecting clean fuel production with maritime demand and emerging green shipping networks.

V.O. Chidambaranar Port designated as one of India’s Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and was the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen has been proactively advancing green-fuel initiatives, including a 10 Nm³/hr green hydrogen pilot project, which has provided in-house experience in renewable energy generation, electrolysis, hydrogen storage and fuel cell operations.

The development of 2 × 750 cubic metres green methanol storage capacity to support future bunkering requirements is nearing completion and is developing a dedicated green ammonia berth to facilitate the handling and future bunkering of green ammonia.

In addition, VOC Port is also in the process of extending Shore-to Ship power in all the berths, procuring Green Tugs, establishing 3 MW Green Hydrogen production plant, 2 MW Ground based solar power plant, 8 MW Wind farm integrated with a 5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System and a 9 MW wind power farm, strengthening its commitment to clean energy, decarbonisation and sustainable port operations.

The Port is also emerging as a significant hub for green-fuel investments, with 501 acres allotted to green-fuel developers, involving a stated investment of around ₹41,860 crore. The Port handled around 1.45 lakh tonnes of liquid ammonia during 2024-25, further strengthening its experience in handling ammonia-related cargo.

In his message, Susanta Kumar Purohit, IRSEE, Chairperson, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, stated that “the ICCT assessment provides valuable strategic direction for strengthening the Port’s green-fuel ecosystem and advancing its role in maritime decarbonisation.”

“Guided by the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, under the leadership of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and aligned with the vision of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, V.O. Chidambaranar Port remains committed to strengthening green-fuel initiatives and supporting India’s efforts towards fulfilling the “Panchamrit” commitments announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister at the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, including the national goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070,” he added.

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