This forward-looking session envisioned India’s maritime sector by 2035, focusing on the adoption of low-emission fuels such as LNG, methanol and green hydrogen. Discussions covered the development of green shipping corridors, dedicated bunkering and refueling hubs, and port-based renewable energy systems. This session articulated a clear roadmap for operationalising Net Zero goals in the maritime space, integrating innovation, international cooperation, and robust capacity-building as cornerstones of transformation.
Green Initiatives and Pollution Control for Port Sector: through implementation of eco-friendly practices at ports including renewable energy, pollution control and infrastructure resilience to support sustainable maritime growth.
Greening India’s Shipping Sector: this includes pathways for decarbonising shipping through clean fuels, digitalisation, automation and emissions monitoring aligned with international maritime standards.
Sustainable Transition of Inland Waterways: economic and ecological potential of inland waterways and the need to enhance multimodal connectivity, port linkages, and strategic corridors.
Policy and Regulatory Gaps: Absence of integrated, forward-looking green maritime policies and slow adoption of global sustainability standards.
Infrastructure Limitations: Inadequate green fuel infrastructure and electrification readiness across ports and shipping corridors.
Financing Constraints: Limited access to green financing and ESG-aligned investments for sustainable maritime projects.
Institutional and Governance Challenges: Lack of coordination between government bodies, port authorities, and private stakeholders hampers effective implementation.
Skill and Capacity Deficit: Insufficient technical expertise and workforce preparedness to support green technology adoption and operations.
Dr. Vibha Dhawan, DG, TERI
Dr. Malini Shankar, IAS, Vice Chancellor, IMU
Shri P. Raveendran, IRTS, Principal Advisor, VOC Port Authority
Shri Ashish Kulkarni, Partner, BCG
Shri Karan Arora, GIZ India, Energy Expert
Shri Vijay Kumar, IAS, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India and Nodal officer NAVIC Cell- 3
Shri Subramanya Kanakatte, Country Head, RINA
This session envisioned the transformation of India’s maritime sector by 2035, focusing on future-ready infrastructure, alternative fuels, and systemic reforms. The session featured leaders from government, academia, think tanks, and industry, who emphasised the strategic role of inland waterways, the need for robust multimodal connectivity, and the shift toward sustainable logistics.
The session began with Shri Vijay Kumar, he emphasised the vast untapped potential of India’s inland waterways, which have seen over 20% CAGR in cargo movement but still hold just 2% of the modal share. He underlined the critical need for better first and last mile connectivity, enhanced multimodal infrastructure, and increased investments to fully leverage the cost-efficiency of waterways. Citing government efforts like the Jal Vikas scheme which offers up to 35% transport cost incentives and is currently active on National Waterways 1 and 2, with multimodal terminals being developed in Varanasi and Sahibganj, alongside ship repair and training facilities.
However, he stressed that current investments and budget allocations must be significantly scaled up for broader impact. He also pointed to ongoing efforts to introduce RoRo vessels to cut transport and handling costs, and underlined the strategic importance of the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes and the emerging Sittwe-Paletwa corridor via Myanmar, which is expected to enhance Northeast connectivity and reduce dependence on Bangladesh once its road link, currently delayed due to regional instability, is operational within a year.
Dr. Malini Shankar, called for a 360-degree capacity-building approach to meet the targets under MIV 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kal Vision 2047. She emphasised that maritime growth depends on trade expansion, not just infrastructure. Highlighting challenges like geopolitical disruptions and the need for supportive external conditions, she emphasised bridging the persistent gap between academic education and the practical skillsets demanded by an evolving industry, particularly as technologies like AI, IoT, and automation reshape port logistics. Dr. Shankar also noted India’s active investments in initiatives like Sagarmala and alternative fuels, and flagged the shortage of qualified maritime trainers, especially in emerging tech areas.
She underscored the urgent need for coordinated efforts across research, innovation, and policy to build a globally competitive maritime ecosystem. She also emphasized that, following the examples of Norway and Korea, India must adopt a phased and collaborative approach, backed by sustained policy support, to successfully build integrated maritime ecosystems.
Shri P. Raveendran, stressed that India’s projected fourfold increase in port capacity must be matched by upgraded multimodal connectivity. He cited the prolonged 20-year delay of the Chennai Port elevated corridor as a stark example of how poor last-mile infrastructure can hamper port efficiency and trade potential. He underscored the urgency of shifting freight from road to rail to improve logistics sustainability and competitiveness, especially in the context of green supply chains and declining rail freight share.
While acknowledging the promise of public-private partnerships (PPPs), he noted that their success hinges on clearer institutional frameworks, separation of regulatory roles, and assured land access, factors that have hindered past container train PPPs. Although the Gati Shakti Cargo terminal policy (GCT) is drawing private interest, only a few terminals have progressed to construction, and the railways must proactively identify, acquire, and concession land, as is done in port PPPs. Achieving a resilient, competitive, and green logistics ecosystem will ultimately hinge on the integrated development of all modes, with multimodal connectivity forming the cornerstone of India’s logistics competitiveness.
Dr. Vibha Dhawan, highlighted the urgent need for multidisciplinary thinking and integrated collaboration to build a future-ready maritime and logistics workforce. She stressed that continuous learning, adaptability, and the ability to work across traditional sectoral and disciplinary boundaries are now more crucial than domain-specific expertise. To drive a green transition, Dr. Dhawan called for internalising environmental costs through carbon taxes on high-emission modes and enhancing energy efficiency across the entire logistics chain, from shipping to ports and equipment.
Dr. Dhawan also underscored the importance of designing products and infrastructure to enable economic recovery of critical minerals. She underscored that policy and market mechanisms must actively incentivise sustainable choices through tools like GST rebates and tax incentives for green technologies. Until green fuels and infrastructure become economically viable, she emphasised the need for clear frameworks to allocate costs fairly between producers and users.
Shri Ashish Kulkarni, advocated for an integrated framework involving policy, regulatory, technical, finance, capacity building, and governance to advance India’s green hydrogen ecosystem. He noted that current efforts operate in silos like demand aggregation and blended finance and called for multi-lever platforms that bring together all actors, from logistics partners to local communities, for systemic value creation and climate resilience at ports. He emphasised that ports must incorporate ecological resilience, such as mangrove conservation, into infrastructure planning to safeguard long-term investments and ensure that national ambitions translate into on-ground results.
Shri Karan Arora, highlighted the importance of ESG and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) frameworks in accessing international green finance, noting that Indian companies missed out on initial viability gap funding (VGF) rounds due to ESG gaps. He expressed optimism about Indian participation in the March 2025 funding round and underscored that future funds under the IMO Net Zero Framework will increasingly be tied to ESG and just transition compliance.
The session concluded with remarks from Shri Subramanya Kanakatte who discussed the challenges and prospects of green fuel adoption in shipping. He explained the complexities surrounding the IMO’s evolving classification standards for fuels like methanol and ammonia, noting the operational and capital costs involved in transitioning. Methanol is emerging as a viable short-term option, while ammonia awaits regulatory clarity. He also noted that ship systems are increasingly integrating automation and CO₂ intensity monitoring to comply with regulatory mandates. Despite the need for tonnage growth, the sector’s progress over the past 10–15 years has been relatively slow due to uncertainties in operator strategies, capital flows, and market demand.
Shri Preetish Biswal added a perspective by framing decarbonisation across three interdependent pillars: technology, finance and regulation. Technological innovations like battery storage, CCUS and green fuels must be backed by scalability and affordability. He emphasized the role of carbon markets in improving project IRR through tradable credits and the need for blended finance models to mitigate investment risk. Regulatory clarity covering energy, shipping and carbon frameworks is essential for fostering investor confidence and ensuring predictability. He argued that government support is necessary but insufficient due to budgetary limitations and competing priorities. He expressed that the state must act as an ecosystem enabler by offering tax benefits, performance-linked incentives and risk guarantees. A coordinated approach, involving policy makers, financiers, technology providers, and international standards bodies is critical for building a sustainable maritime finance architecture.
