India–Norway Maritime Connect strengthens push for Green Shipping and advancements

MUMBAI : On the sidelines of the Indo–Norway Maritime Connect held in Mumbai, Shri Sushil Khopde, IPS, Additional Director General, Directorate General of Shipping, held a constructive interaction with Her Excellency Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India, underscoring the growing maritime partnership between the two nations.

During the meeting, Shri Khopde outlined key policy and regulatory initiatives undertaken by the Directorate General of Shipping to advance India’s maritime sector, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, green shipping practices, and safety standards. He highlighted India’s proactive steps toward reducing carbon emissions, promoting alternative fuels, enhancing energy efficiency in shipping, and aligning with global frameworks such as IMO decarbonization targets.

The discussion also reflected on India’s maritime growth trajectory, including capacity building, digitalization of maritime services, and strengthening of regulatory frameworks to support a future-ready shipping ecosystem. Shri Khopde emphasized India’s commitment to fostering innovation and adopting best global practices to ensure sustainable and resilient maritime operations.

Her Excellency Ms. Stener acknowledged India’s efforts in advancing green maritime initiatives and reiterated Norway’s keen interest in deepening bilateral cooperation. She highlighted Norway’s expertise in clean maritime technologies, including zero-emission vessels, green ports, and digital solutions, and expressed willingness to collaborate with India in these domains.

Both sides explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in areas such as decarbonization strategies, development of green corridors, adoption of alternative fuels like hydrogen and ammonia, maritime skill development, and joint research and innovation. The dialogue also touched upon facilitating industry partnerships and knowledge exchange to accelerate the transition towards sustainable shipping.

The interaction reaffirmed the shared vision of India and Norway to work closely towards a greener, more efficient, and technologically advanced maritime future, further strengthening bilateral ties in the maritime domain.