During the Singapore Maritime Week, a senior Indian government official revealed that an Indian delegation is actively engaging with the global shipping industry to collaborate on advancing new technologies and investigating the viability of utilizing methanol and ammonia as ship fuels. The delegation's presence at the event, attended by over 10,000 delegates worldwide, underscores their commitment to exploring innovative solutions within the maritime sector.

"We are here to seek out collaborations for all new technologies and explore the potential of using methanol and ammonia as ship fuels with the shipping industry stakeholders", Bhushan Kumar, joint secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said on the sidelines of the event.

Methanol and ammonia are considered as cleaner alternatives to conventional maritime fuels. Green ammonia and methanol, produced from low-carbon sources, help in reducing carbon emissions. "We have to continue working on green fuel. At this stage, it may be commercially not very attractive, but we have to optimize and improve the solutions to make it commercially viable", Kumar said.

According to a senior government official, the presence of the majority of the industry's major stakeholders at the Singapore Maritime Week presents an opportune moment for forging collaborations and partnerships. Emphasizing India's dedication to hydrogen production, the official highlighted its potential in facilitating the industry's transition towards sustainable energy sources. "India is spearheading green shipping initiatives", the official asserted, predicting that hydrogen production will be a tangible reality in the country by approximately 2027.

India is setting up hydrogen centres at Kandla, Paradip and Tuticorin ports. Land at Kandla has been awarded to Reliance, L&T and Welspur Groups for setting up hydrogen centres. "The next step is how can we replace this green fuel and replace the heavy fuel in ships. We want to make methanol, ammonia, hydrogen -- we are exploring all those possibilities and take a lead in green shipping worldwide which is also the objective of IMO", Kumar said.

He recommended that ship engine manufacturers, ship owners, and operators collaborate to discover solutions for substituting traditional fuels with eco-friendly alternatives. Kumar engaged in discussions with both the Maritime Port Authority and the Port of Singapore Authority. Additionally, he held a meeting with Singapore's Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat. "We will take the dialogue forward and we have invited them to India", said Kumar who will continue to meet industry stakeholders during the global event.

Kumar also provided an overview of the Indian government's multi-billion dollar Sagarmala projects, which aim to leverage the nation's extensive coastline spanning over 7,500 kilometers, along with its 14,500 kilometers of potentially navigable waterways and strategic positioning along major international maritime trade routes. "We have more than 800 projects under Sagarmala 220 have been completed and 300-plus are under various stages of construction while the rest are under planning and tendering," he said.