India's FIRST hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel is here at Varanasi! All you need to know

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday flagged off India's first hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel at Varanasi's Namo Ghat.

The indigenously developed vessel is said to be a major milestone in the country's push for the use of green energy in its efforts to modernise its inland waterways.

Built by Cochin Shipyard (CSL) under the Centre's Harit Nauka initiative, the hydrogen-powered catamaran measures 24m long, has an air-conditioned cabin, and can carry 50 passengers for about eight hours, as per a Times of India report.

The only emissions from the vessel are pure water and heat, which result in noiseless vessels and better energy efficiency. It also uses Low-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) fuel cells along with Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries for auxiliary power.

"We are advancing confidently towards green energy and indigenous solutions ... our technical capabilities are ready for the future," Sonowal noted at the event, after which the vessel will begin commercial operations.

He added that with this passenger vessel, India has joined the ranks of China, Norway, the Netherlands, and Japan—all of which use hydrogen-powered vessels for transportation.

This also comes just a week after the shipping minister virtually greenlit the steel cutting ceremony for India's first all-electric green tug at Gujarat's Deendayal Port—which is touted as a major boost for India's decarbonisation goals.

The vessel, which has a 60-tonne-bollard pull capacity, is currently being developed under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways's (MoPSW) Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP).

The modernisation of India's waterways by the Centre and the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has involved expanding navigation channels, introducing modern terminals, and making new passenger and cargo routes operational in order to strengthen water-based communication and reduce logistics costs.

These efforts align with India's long-term maritime goals under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047—both of which offer a roadmap for greener transport, smart infrastructure, and the increased use of renewable energy fuels on vessels operating in inland waterways.