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Context:
On 11 December 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell vessel at Namo Ghat, Varanasi. The vessel is a pilot project by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) aimed at promoting clean energy in inland water transport and advancing India’s net-zero emission goals.
Key Features:
- Type & Size: Hydrogen fuel-cell powered passenger vessel, ~24 metres long
- Capacity: 50 passengers, air-conditioned
- Propulsion: Low-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) hydrogen fuel cells combined with lithium-ion phosphate batteries
- Emissions: Zero-emission; water and heat are the only byproducts
- Performance: Silent operation, energy-efficient compared to conventional diesel vessels
- Builder: Cochin Shipyard Limited – fully designed and constructed in India