INDIA'S FIRST INDIGENOUS HYDROGEN FUEL CELL FERRY INAUGURATED

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated India’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell ferry at Kochi Harbor in Kerala. This marks a significant leap forward in sustainable transportation for the nation.

A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical system that produces electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. It works similarly to a battery, but it doesn't need to be recharged

Vessel Details:

1. Named ‘Suchetha’, the 24-meter catamaran ferry boasts an electric propulsion system powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
2. Capable of carrying 50 passengers.
3. The onboard fuel cells generate power through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, emitting only water and heat.

Indigenous Technology:

1. Suchetha’s fuel cells and electric motors are developed domestically as part of the Kochi International Water metro project.
2. Collaboration between Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), L&T, Indian Register of Shipping, and other stakeholders emphasizes the government's vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

Benefits:

1. Experts See cleaner ferry transit across India’s canal networks, reducing congestion, noise, and air pollution, especially in urban areas.
2. The project creates high-skilled employment opportunities and enhances domestic technical capabilities in sustainable marine technologies.

Future Prospects:

1. Cochin Shipyard plans to construct 7 more hydrogen fuel cell boats of varying passenger capacities, aiming to tap into the international market for clean marine technologies.
2. Expansion of low-cost, zero-emission ferry systems across India under public and private partnership models.

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