India Launches Its First Indigenous Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Passenger Vessel

hydrogen-powered vessel — Image Credits: Cochin Shipyard Ltd/Facebook

India took an important step towards clean and modern water transport on Thursday as Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched the country’s first indigenous hydrogen fuel-cell passenger vessel at Namo Ghat in Varanasi.

The vessel has been built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL) for the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), and it is the first in India to use hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion in a maritime setting.

The vessel is designed to run on a Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (LT-PEM) fuel cell system. This system converts stored hydrogen into electricity and releases only water as a byproduct. Officials described this launch as a major step towards zero-emission transport on Indian waterways.

The vessel can operate for eight hours on a single hydrogen fill and carries four hydrogen cylinders on board. It also has an electric battery system as backup.

The hydrogen-powered cruise can carry 50 passengers in an air-conditioned cabin. It is 28 metres long and 5.8 metres wide, and it will be operated by a crew of 10. The boat can travel on the River Ganga at speeds between 12 and 20 km per hour.

Passenger tickets have been priced at ₹50. A dedicated hydrogen refuelling station has been set up at the Multi-Modal Terminal in Ralhupur, Ramnagar, Varanasi, to support the vessel’s operations.

During the launch, Sonowal said India was witneDuring the launch, Sonowal said India is moving towards cleaner, sustainable and self-reliant transport systems. He added that the vessel shows the government’s focus on Make in India and its aim to promote green mobility across all sectors.

He also said that the initiative supports efforts to rejuvenate and preserve the River Ganga. Sonowal mentioned that using cleaner technologies on waterways encourages innovation while maintaining ecological responsibility.

The vessel has entered commercial service after completing successful trial operations. This rollout supports the government’s plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 and fits into the Ministry’s goals under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

To manage the pilot phase, IWAI, CSL and Inland and Coastal Shipping Ltd. have signed a tripartite agreement that covers technical support, operational oversight, safety standards, financial terms and monitoring systems.

The launch event was attended by several representatives and officials, including Uttar Pradesh Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ravindra Jaiswal, Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Dr Daya Shankar Mishra ‘Dayalu’, and multiple MLAs. Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari, MoPSW Secretary Vijay Kumar, IWAI Chairman Sunil Paliwal and senior officials from the Ministry, IWAI and the Uttar Pradesh government were also present.

References: Hindustan Times, Indian Express

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