The biggest container port in India has gone on to sign up with a major French gateway in order to deepen cooperation pertaining to trade and technology as well as energy transition. The deal ensures to put hydrogen and alternative fuels, along with digital ports, at the epicenter of a new India-Europe maritime collaboration.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority – JNPA has recently signed a memorandum of understanding – MoU with Grand Port Maritime de Marseille Fos – GPMM hence marking what both sides describe as a fresh chapter when it comes to India–Europe maritime cooperation. The agreement has been inked by the CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of the Port of Marseille Fos, Mr. Hervé Martel, and the General Manager – Admin and Secretary of JNPA, Manisha Jadhav. Interestingly, the collaboration is intended to make sure that the maritime ties between India and Europe become more robust via enhancing the cargo flows through both the ports and by syncing strategies pertaining to innovation and sustainability, along with operational excellence.
Apart from the trade volumes, the MoU has also outlined a framework for technical exchanges along with capacity building in smart port platforms, port digitalisation as well as data interoperability. A specific focus is placed on certain green operations, which includes alternative fuels like LNG and hydrogen, the rollout of Onshore Power Supply – OPS, and also the development in terms of low-carbon bunkering. According to both the ports, the objective is to create more sustainable as well as technologically advanced port ecosystems while at the same time ensuring to keep their networks connected internationally.
The fact is that the energy transition is indeed the main pillar of this cooperation. Both sides look forward to working with each other on initiatives that are designed to decrease emissions at berth and also throughout the port operations by way of using tools like OPS systems as well as cleaner fuels. The agreement is a pure showcase of shared ambition to sync port development along with global climate targets as well as maritime sustainability benchmarks and to ensure that the policy commitments take the shape of practical infrastructure and also functional changes.
When it comes to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority – JNPA, which is the largest container port in India and also a major gateway for the EXIM trade of the country, the deal also focuses on access to the market. Marseille Fos, which is one of the leading ports in France and also a strategic logistics hub that’s a part of the Mediterranean, is regarded as a prominent entry point for Indian cargo to get into Europe. Both the partners anticipate the link-up to make way for container volumes that are higher, encourage multimodal connections, and also come up with novel business opportunities that are there to grab on both sides of the route.
