SYLLABUS

GS - 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc; Achievements of Indians in science & technology;  Indigenisation of technology and developing new technology. 

Context: India recently launched its first fully indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell passenger vessel (FCV Pilot-01) at Namo Ghat in Varanasi. 

More on the News 

• The vessel, named FCV Pilot-01, was developed by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) and will be operated by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
• It is India’s first vessel to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell propulsion in a maritime setting.
• The Indian Register of Shipping has certified the vessel, confirming compliance with national safety and technical standards.
• The Vessel run, a 5 km trip from Namo Ghat to Lalita Ghat, marked the start of commercial operations of the hydrogen-powered passenger vessel on the river Ganga (National Waterways 1).
• The vessel aligns with India’s goals under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023 to reduce carbon emissions in inland waterways and ports. 

About Hydrogen Fuel Cell 

• A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or other fuels to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. 
• Fuel cells are versatile, capable of using various fuels and providing power for applications ranging from laptops to utility-scale power stations.

About Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel

• The vessel uses a Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) fuel cell system, converting stored hydrogen into electricity and emitting only water vapour, enabling completely pollution-free operations.
• The vessel is equipped with a hybrid propulsion architecture that integrates hydrogen fuel cells with battery storage and onboard solar generation for enhanced efficiency and operational flexibility. 

About Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

• The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) was established in 1986 under the Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985.
• IWAI aims for the development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
• IWAI operates under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• IWAI Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

• National Waterways 1: 

• The Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system from Haldia to Prayagraj (1620 km) was declared National Waterway-1 (NW-1) in 1986. It covers Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• IWAI is developing NW-1 under the World Bank-assisted Jal Marg Vikas Project. 

• The National Waterways Act, 2016, expanded the number of national waterways from 5 to 111, significantly increasing IWAI’s regulatory domain. 

Sources: 
PIB
DD News
PIB
Energy