India has inducted its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel cell passenger vessel into commercial service on the Ganga in Varanasi, marking a milestone in green inland water transport. Owned by IWAI and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, the 24-metre catamaran was flagged off at Namo Ghat and can carry about 50 passengers. Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, batteries and solar panels, it offers eight hours of zero-emission operation, positioning Varanasi as India’s first city with hydrogen-powered river transport.

DP World has launched a new twice-weekly EXIM rail service linking Powarkheda in Madhya Pradesh with the Nhava Sheva container terminal, improving the state’s access to global and domestic markets. Operating from DP World’s multimodal Powarkheda logistics hub, the service integrates rail, warehousing, cold storage and bonded facilities to cut transit times, costs and emissions. The hub supports agri, food and industrial cargo, offers value-added services, and enables three-day connectivity from central India to India’s busiest container port.

The Karnataka government has initiated the tender process to mechanise and manage berths at Old Mangalore, Malpe and Karwar ports through a PPP model under the ROMT framework, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told the Lok Sabha on December 5. The State has also proposed PPP-based development of Honnavar Port, with all clearances secured. Additional port projects include a ₹4,118-crore JSW-led greenfield port, new port proposals at Pavinakurve and Manki, and upgrades to Malpe Fishing Harbour under PMMSY.

South Korea’s HD Hyundai is advancing plans to establish a major shipbuilding facility in India after signing an exclusive agreement with the Tamil Nadu government. The proposed shipyard, estimated to involve a USD 2 billion investment, is still under evaluation. Aligned with India’s ambition to become a leading maritime manufacturing hub, the project could position Tamil Nadu—particularly Thoothukudi—as a key shipbuilding centre. HD Hyundai has also strengthened its India presence through partnerships with BEML and Cochin Shipyard, spanning commercial and naval shipbuilding.

India and Russia signed key maritime and transport MoUs during the 23rd India-Russia annual summit to strengthen cooperation across strategic shipping corridors, including the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Vladivostok-Chennai maritime route and the Northern Sea Route. The agreements focus on enhancing logistics connectivity, shipbuilding cooperation and training Indian seafarers for polar navigation. Signed during President Vladimir Putin’s December 4 visit, the MoUs aim to build maritime expertise, boost infrastructure capacity and deepen long-term maritime, transport and strategic collaboration between the two nations.