Ecosystem Dynamics are envisioned in port development, operation, and maintenance under the "Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023"
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has introduced "Harit Sagar," the Green Port Guidelines, to fulfill the greater objective of achieving the Zero Carbon Emission Goal. In the distinguished presence of Shripad Y. Naik, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Tourism, and other top Ministry officials today in New Delhi, the guidelines were officially introduced by Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and AYUSH.
According to the "Working with Nature" philosophy, Harit Sagar Guidelines - 2023 anticipate ecosystem dynamics in port development, operation, and maintenance while minimising influence on biotic components of the harbour environment. It places a focus on the use of clean and environmentally friendly energy in port operations and the development of port capabilities for the storage, processing, and bunkering of greener fuels such as green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, and green ethanol.
These guidelines offer a framework for the major ports to create a thorough action plan with the goal of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and targeted outcomes, such as a quantified decrease in carbon emissions over predetermined timeframes.
"Ports are undertaking green initiatives and actively contributing to the fulfilment of the "Panchamrit" commitments announced by our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said during the ceremony. The "Harit Sagar" Guidelines -2023 give our major ports a thorough framework, enabling them to develop a thorough action plan with the goal of attaining verifiable reductions in carbon emissions over specified timescales.
The guidelines' main goals are to reduce trash through the four R's: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle in order to achieve zero waste discharge from port operations and to encourage monitoring based on EPIs. Additionally, it includes provisions for adopting the international Green Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard and covers parts of the National Green Hydrogen Mission related to ports, the creation of green hydrogen facilities, LNG bunkering, offshore wind energy, etc.
“The launch of the Harit Sagar Green Port Guidelines is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals. These guidelines have been formulated with the aim of promoting environmentally friendly practices across all our Ports,” said Shripad Naik, MoS, MoPSW during the event.
Sudhansh Pant, Secretary, MoPSW said, 'Our four major ports Deendayal Port, Visakhapatnam Port, New Mangalore Port and VOC Port are already generating more renewable energy than their demand. From now onwards our ports will be able to evaluate themselves on the environmental indicators to know their capability in the environmental aspects.’
For their exceptional performance on a few operational and financial metrics during FY 2022–2023, the main ports received prizes. Ports with the greatest incremental improvements were also recognised, and they were graded according to how well they performed overall in 2022–2023. The goal is to inspire the major ports to perform better and better throughout the course of the upcoming year by creating fair and healthy competition among them.
The Deendayal Port in Kandla received the prize for the greatest absolute performance for the fiscal year 2022–2023 for handling the most cargo—137.56 MMT. While Paradip Port won a performance shield for Ship Berth Day Output, Jawaharlal Nehru Port was recognised for reaching a significant milestone in turn around time.
While Cochin Port (a non-container port) obtained performance shield in turn-around time, Kamarajar Port was recognised in pre-berthing detention time.
The Paradip Port won the prize for the best incremental performance after recording the highest cargo growth rate of 16.56% the previous year. The best ship berth day output award in the incremental category went to Mormugao Port, and the best pre-berthing detention time award went to Kamarajar Port.
According to overall annual performance measured by cargo handling, average turnaround time, ship birthday output, idle time at berth, operating ratio, and pre-berthing detention, Paradip Port was named the best port.