IIT Roorkee, IMU-V develop fuel-efficient maritime transport solution

23 Jun 2021 CW Team

The development of several new ports is witnessed by India's broad coastline, even as existing ports are expanded to meet the increasing volumes of marine traffic and enable future maritime trade. Such growing seaport infrastructure needs more Short Endurance Marine Vessels (SEMV) for effective port administration and operation.

The usable life of a generic diesel-engine-driven SEMV is close to 20 years, after which it is decommissioned. Diesel-engine-driven marine vessels should be replaced with zero-emission electric vessels to realise sustainable solutions and reduce carbon footprint at Indian seaports.

HSL researchers adjusted the functioning of power sources (diesel-engine-driven induction generators and batteries) of the tugboats in this collaborative research to meet the load demand while consuming the lowest possible amount of fuel.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways funded the research. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust provided important information about the various types of marine vessels, their operational schedules and expected design feasibility.

In collaboration with IMU-V, HSL is also working towards absolute battery-operated SEMV designs and high-efficiency fault-tolerant marine electric powertrains to produce competent zero-emission SEMVs.

It is expected that the adoption of lithium-ion batteries with long life cycles would lead to the commercialisation of absolute battery-operated SEM V as the global market for battery-driven electric vehicles expands.

Faculty-in-Charge, Thanga Raj Chelliah, Hydropower Simulation Lab, told the media that the joint research effort of HSL and IMU-V has led to the achievement of a fuel-efficient maritime transport solution. The methodologies used in the research yielded significant results, providing fuel savings to the extent of 29.86%. This endeavour proves that high-quality research can offer modern, effective, efficient and environmentally friendly business solutions.

Image Source

Indian Maritime University, Visakhapatnam (IMU-V) and the Hydropower Simulation Laboratory (HSL) of IIT Roorkee's collaborative research resulted in developing an environment-friendly and cost-effective maritime transport solution. The development of several new ports is witnessed by India's broad coastline, even as existing ports are expanded to meet the increasing volumes of marine traffic and enable future maritime trade. Such growing seaport infrastructure needs more Short Endurance Marine Vessels (SEMV) for effective port administration and operation. The usable life of a generic diesel-engine-driven SEMV is close to 20 years, after which it is decommissioned. Diesel-engine-driven marine vessels should be replaced with zero-emission electric vessels to realise sustainable solutions and reduce carbon footprint at Indian seaports. HSL researchers adjusted the functioning of power sources (diesel-engine-driven induction generators and batteries) of the tugboats in this collaborative research to meet the load demand while consuming the lowest possible amount of fuel. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways funded the research. The Visakhapatnam Port Trust provided important information about the various types of marine vessels, their operational schedules and expected design feasibility. In collaboration with IMU-V, HSL is also working towards absolute battery-operated SEMV designs and high-efficiency fault-tolerant marine electric powertrains to produce competent zero-emission SEMVs. It is expected that the adoption of lithium-ion batteries with long life cycles would lead to the commercialisation of absolute battery-operated SEM V as the global market for battery-driven electric vehicles expands. Faculty-in-Charge, Thanga Raj Chelliah, Hydropower Simulation Lab, told the media that the joint research effort of HSL and IMU-V has led to the achievement of a fuel-efficient maritime transport solution. The methodologies used in the research yielded significant results, providing fuel savings to the extent of 29.86%. This endeavour proves that high-quality research can offer modern, effective, efficient and environmentally friendly business solutions. Image Source

Infrastructure Transport

30 May 2026

Chembur Metro to Boost East Mumbai Links

MMRDA is advancing eastern Mumbai’s urban mobility network, with the upcoming Chembur Metro Station set to emerge as a key interchange and the Mumbai Monorail preparing for relaunch.Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, conducted a site visit to Chembur Metro Station along with Kanhuraj Bagate, Managing Director, MMMOCL. He also visited the nearby VN Purav Monorail Station to review system preparedness and ease of interconnectivity.Once operational, the interchange is expected to offer commuters across the eastern suburbs quicker access, smoother transfers and seamless conne..

Equipment

30 May 2026

Herrenknecht TBMs Drive Thane–Borivali Tunnel Progress

Herrenknecht India has supplied two of the four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) required for the 11-km Thane–Borivali Twin Tunnel Project being developed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The project is expected to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from 60–90 minutes to around 15 minutes while easing congestion across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The first two Single Shield TBMs, named Nayak and Arjuna, feature 13.34-m cutterhead diameters and are designed for hard-rock excavation. They will be deployed to tunnel through the challenging geological..

Resources

29 May 2026

KBL Launches Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set

Kirloskar Brothers (KBL) has launched its Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set, an integrated fire protection solution designed to improve operational efficiency, remote monitoring and installation flexibility. The system was inaugurated by Ms Madhuritai Misal, Hon. Minister of State for Urban Development, Government of Maharashtra.The Smart Skid Mounted Fire Pump Set is a factory-tested, pre-packaged solution that combines FM/UL-certified motor and engine pump sets with IoT-enabled remote monitoring. Designed to deliver a flow rate of 170 m³/hr at a head of 100 metres, the system aims to provide..