The government’s plan to phase out conventional fuel-based harbour tugs operating in state-owned major ports and replace them in phases with green tugs powered by cleaner and sustainable alternate fuels has hit a snag with private operators saying that there was “no economic sense” in buying green tugs due to higher costs, longer payback period and fears that electric technology could be short lived. 

“There is no economic sense in green tugs,” said a port operator. “It has a very long payback period and frankly we are still not convinced that other than environmental reasons, there is any economic advantage for a port operator to switch to green tugs,” he stated. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for progressive replacement of existing diesel-powered tugs with zero-emission tugs built locally for greening of operations at state-owned ports. 

Harbor tugs are vital for port operations such as berthing, unberthing, and ship assist functions. 

The Ministry has set a five-phase timeline ending 2047 by which the 12 state-owned ports must make their tug fleet fully green under the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), per the SOP. 

The first phase of GTTP will run through December 2027 during which four major ports—Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V O Chidambaranar Port Authority—will procure or charter at least two green tugs (battery electric powered) each with a total investment of some Rs1,000 crores based on standardized designs and specifications issued by the Standing Specification Committee (SSC). These green tug orders are yet to be placed. 

The first set of green tugs will be battery-electric, with provisions for adopting other emerging green technologies such as hybrid, methanol, and green hydrogen as the industry evolves. 

In the second phase, between 2027 and 2030, at least 50 percent of the tugs operating in these four state-run major ports should be green tugs. 

Besides, at least 25 percent of tug fleets in all the other major ports under MoPSW should be GTTP compliant. This phase may also involve the adoption of alternate/green fuels such as methanol, hydrogen etc in addition to battery electric propulsion. Any other emergent green technologies can also be considered based on developments in the industry. In the third phase (2030-2035), all ports under MoPSW should ensure that at least 50 percent of their tug fleet are GTTP compliant. 

In the fourth phase (2035-2040), all state-owned ports should ensure that at least 75 percent of their tug fleet are GTTP compliant. 

In the fifth phase (2040-2047), all the 12 major ports should ensure that 100 percent of their tug fleet are GTTP compliant. From the third phase onwards, the major ports can also consider new or additional emergent green technologies for tugs based on developments in the industry. The port industry and tug owners are sceptical about the Ministry’s plan.