Kamarajar Port pushes for usage of shore power supply facility to decrease emissions

In a bid to cut down pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, Kamarajar Port has been pushing vessels to utilise the shore power supply facility at the port.

Established at a cost of ₹ 20.5 crore, the Shore Power Supply facility was inaugurated at the port in November 2024, and it can cater 500 KW, 400V with a frequency of 50-60 Hz to vessels at Coal Berth 1 and Coal Berth 2. These two berths of the port are utilised by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd. (TANGEDCO) and NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Ltd (NTECL), a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited and TANGEDCO. When ships dock at the port, they usually run their diesel-powered auxiliary engines. Instead, they can henceforth consume electricity to power their onboard systems.

Sources at Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) said, the project work began in 2023 and was completed in a year’s time under the Government of India’s ‘Harit Sagar’ Green Port Guidelines, to decrease the emissions from ships in ports. 

“We are encouraging ships to use this facility and pushing for it as much as possible. We have invested quite a bit on this crucial initiative because green energy is the way forward, and the vessels will see a significant reduction in their fuel consumption and maintenance costs in the long run. For now, one of the ships has been retrofitted to take in the shore power and talks are on to urge the others to use this as well,” the source said.

Sources said, KPL has requested and written to TANGEDCO to direct ship owners to use shore power supply at least on a trial basis.

“Ships will load coal at Paradip Port and bring it to Ennore. Paradip Port is also getting equipped with shore power supply. So, we are working closely with them to work out a mechanism so that ships docking in both ports should use shore power. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is also looking at this corridor (Paradip-Ennore) as a pilot green corridor for transportation,” the source added.

Ships are reluctant because of the administrative costs involved in carrying out the retrofitting work to take in the shore power. But KPL sources said, they can do it while docking and the benefits they will experience in the long run definitely outweighs the administrative costs.

In March this year, maritime regulatory body, Directorate General of Shipping issued a circular stating the standards for shore to ship Power Supply at Indian ports and ships and noted that by 2030, foreign flag vessels and international cargo ships should use shore power in all Indian ports. Between 2030 and 2035 , there should be ‘complete use of shore power on all vessels in all Indian ports.’