India, July 15 -- India's announcement of the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) in May 2023, aimed at replacing conventional harbour tugs with vessels powered by cleaner alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, marked a significant step towards positioning itself as a global hub for green shipbuilding. This initiative closely aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a sustainable maritime economy, as declared at the Global Maritime India Summit the same year, attracting record investments of over Rs.2.37 lakh crore ($28 billion).
Yet, by July 2025, progress on the ground remains limited. Despite the existence of capable domestic shipyards, validated vessel designs, indigenous battery systems, and emerging...