Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, on December 11, flagged off the commercial operations of India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell vessel at Namo Ghat in Varanasi.

The launch marks the start of regular service for the 24-metre hydrogen-powered catamaran as part of efforts to modernise inland water transport with cleaner energy solutions.

The vessel was indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited as a pilot project under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways’ Harit Nauka initiative. It can carry up to 50 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin and is propelled by a hydrogen fuel cell system paired with battery technology that produces electricity with zero emissions, emitting only water and heat.

Sonowal said, “This is not just

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