Kotak emphasized the significance of India’s shift towards cleaner fuels
Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has called for stakeholders’ focus in the ongoing development of state-of-the-art port infrastructure backed by technology for economic growth.
Speaking at the 2nd Edition of FICCI’s Port Infrastructure Conclave on 28 Apr 2023, he outlined future plans for the maritime sector, pointing out that, “95% of India’s trading by volume and 70% by value is done through maritime transportation.
“For smooth and efficient trading, most-modern and advanced port infrastructure is of paramount importance.”
He emphasised the importance of incorporating technology into port operations, stating, “Smart ports are the future, and we are already making significant strides towards this goal.”
By leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence, India aims to optimise port operations and boost efficiency, Sonowal stressed, alluding to recent digital initiatives such as the National Logistics Portal (NLP)-Marine and Sagar-Setu app.
Also, major ports are under development to become hydrogen hubs for handling, storage and transportation of green hydrogen, he added.
Deendayal, Paradip, and V.O. Chidambaranar ports have already begun developing the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen bunkering, he said.
The Minister’s call to stakeholders was backed by Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee for Transport Infrastructure, who lauded the government for its commitment to sustainability and green port initiatives.
Kotak noted that the Green Port Policy aims to transform the port ecosystem by focusing on emission management across scope one, scope two, and scope three emissions.
Kotak emphasized the significance of India’s shift towards cleaner fuels and the potential impact on the port and logistics industry.
He also pointed out the country’s rapid move towards adopting advanced technologies like 5G and 6G, which will further enable the transformation of ports into connected, smart ports through the Internet of Things.
As the industry stands on the cusp of a transformative period, Kotak called on the sector to not only participate in these changes but to capitalize on the opportunities they present.
For the record, major ports collectively handled a record-breaking 795 million tonnes of cargo in FY23, a 10.4% growth over the previous year. The ports achieved the highest-ever output per day of 17,239 tonnes, marking a 6% increase compared to the last year.
Another significant accomplishment was the best-ever operating ratio of 48.54%. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) set a new benchmark by handling over 6 million TEUs, reflecting the highest container throughput.
The major ports recorded their highest-ever number of vessels handled, reaching a total of 21,846 vessels in the year. fiinews.com
