Indian Register of Shipping & MPUVNL Partner for Completion of Solar Electric Boats Projects

Indian Register of Shipping & MPUVNL Partner for Completion of Solar Electric Boats Projects

The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and MPUVNL (Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd)- a firm owned by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and delves into the execution of renewable energy programs, have joined hands for the classification and certification of solar-electric boats.

The partnership between IRS and MPUVNL will pave the way for the completion of to projects planned for solar electric boats. The agreement looks into review technical specifications. It will also entail inspection at the time of construction, and certification of material, components, and equipment for the solar-electric boats. Additionally, IRS will be responsible to offer additional technical services including the review of documents as well as providing training to MPUVNL personnel.

Towards Green Shipping

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways has been increasingly taking initiatives with a view to give a push to green solutions. The first National Center of Excellence for Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS) in India was unveiled last year. This is a significant effort on the part of the Ministry of Ports, and Shipping to provide greener solutions. It has also introduced the Green Tug Transition Programme, under which, four major ports will buy two green tugs each.

Solar, Electric Boats

Of late, the idea of solar electric boats has been gathering steam. More recently, in May, the state government of Odisha said it was mulling to introduce solar and electric boats as modern means of transport in the Chilika Lake for the transportation of passengers, thereby replacing machine boats. According to sources, the government will run the first solar boat in Chilika on trials for the first three months.

A ‘sun cruise’ was recently introduced at the Peruvannamuzhi ecotourism spot in Kozhikode district of Kerala. Two solar-powered boats were allowed on the reservoir to promote the culture of cruising among tourists. Similarly, the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Muziris Heritage Project Ltd. for using its solar boats for the tours conducted in Kochi-Muziris heritage tourism circuit.