Jawaharlal Nehru Port: Pioneering Sustainability in MaritimeTrade
India has a vast coastline stretching for about 7,500 km. This geographical factor has led to the establishment of several key ports such as the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT), the Vizhinjam Port, the Kandla Port, and many more. A milestone in Indian maritime history is the establishment of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) situated in Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra.
It is a premier container-handling port in India, accounting for nearly 50% of the total containerised cargo volume across all major ports in the country. But with great power comes great responsibility. During the planning and construction phases of the port, several pressing issues were raised — including the protection of the mangrove forests along the coast, coastline erosion, the aftermath of construction activities leading to unwanted ballast discharge, and the excessive use of non-renewable energy sources like diesel and coal, which contribute significantly to environmental degradation.
As these concerns directly affect marine ecology and the natural habitats of various living beings, several methods, technologies, and sustainable development initiatives were carefully implemented to strike a balance between progress and preservation.
1. Trees Are Our Best Friends
JNPT is a major container-handling port, managing the movement of 10,000–20,000 containers in a single day. This results in the operation of a vast number of diesel-powered trucks. Diesel-operated trucks are known to be one of the leading causes of air pollution, due to their hazardous emission of smoke and particulate matter.
As a countermeasure to these growing environmental problems, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authorities have successfully planted over 2 lakh trees in and around the vicinity of the port. These trees act as natural air purifiers and carbon sinks, helping to significantly improve air quality while enhancing the ecological balance in the region.
Aerial View of JNPT
2. Cautious Disposal of Ballast Discharge
Cargo ships that dock at JNPT travel long distances across oceans and tend to accumulate unwanted ballast discharge, which includes water that can carry invasive aquatic species and pollutants. This discharge must be disposed of in a safe, regulated manner to ensure the protection of marine ecology.
When these ships arrive at the port, they hand over the unwanted ballast water to the terminal port authorities, who take responsibility for its safe and environmentally compliant disposal. This has helped preserve biodiversity and maintain the delicate balance of marine ecosystems near the port.
3. Green Means Go
● Diesel-operated trucks, as mentioned earlier, are a major contributor to air pollution due to their harmful emissions. To tackle this issue more effectively, the port authorities have deployed six electrically-operated trucks within the port premises. These vehicles have the capacity to carry three times the load of a normal cargo truck and are currently undergoing trials. This marks a significant step towards electrification in port logistics.
Further, with recent advancements in transport technology, the port is exploring the introduction of hydrogen-powered, methanol-fuelled, and solar-powered vehicles in the near future. By 2030, they plan to have their entire fleet of trucks operating electrically, thus drastically reducing their carbon footprint.
● The cranes used for loading and unloading cargo are now magnificent battery-operated automatic cranes. These are supervised regularly by port authorities to check for any possible malfunctioning or safety issues. Today, approximately 75% of all machines and cranes used at the port are electric, showing a strong shift towards clean technology.
● The railway network used within the port for transporting containers and cargo is now fully electrified, making it a much more environmentally friendly option compared to diesel-run trains.
● The authorities have also begun the implementation of shore supply technology, which enables ships to plug into shore power instead of running their engines while docked. Despite the high capital expenditure (CapEx) associated with this system, it is being implemented in phases, helping to reduce emissions from vessels at berth.
Mechanised Cranes
4. Clean Roads, Clear Air
In a busy and constantly operating port, dust and waste buildup can impact both worker health and environmental quality. To counter this, machine-operated vacuum road sweepers have been introduced to keep the roads within the port clean and dust-free.Additionally, water speckling technology, which involves spraying a fine mist of water, is being used to settle airborne dust particles. These technologies not only ensure cleaner air but also contribute to a safer and more efficient working environment.
5. Alternative Energy Experiments
While wind energy is being tested at the port, the absence of offshore wind farms along the western coastline has made it difficult to harness wind power effectively. As a result, the port currently purchases solar energy from external providers instead of generating its own, mainly due to the high CapEx involved in setting up in-house solar power infrastructure. Still, these small but consistent steps indicate a long-term commitment to transitioning to cleaner and renewable energy sources.
6. Working Towards a Greener Future
By implementing all these sustainable practices—planting trees, safe ballast disposal, electrification of trucks and cranes, clean technology, water-mist dust control, and exploration of renewable energy—Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority has already achieved over 60% of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The port continues to work tirelessly towards creating a model for green logistics and infrastructure, showcasing how industrial growth can go hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility.
Sources:- High Level Officials at Jawaharlal Nehru Port