The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) received the ‘L2 Green Port’ accreditation under the government’s green port programme for its ongoing initiatives to become a greener port, improve climate resilience, and reduce its environmental footprint.

The accreditation comes within the framework of Green Port Ranking developed by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) which empowers Ports to ramp up their sustainability efforts. VPA has achieved an L2 rating, showing a high level of compliance with environmental benchmarks and highlighting its commitment to cleaner, greener maritime infrastructure.

The port’s initiatives include measures to reduce emissions, ensuring responsible waste handling, promoting energy efficiency and cleaner fuels within the port boundary, officials said. Shore power for vessels, the use of electric and hybrid cargo handling machinery and enhanced air quality monitoring were identified as key elements to the green rating.

The port representatives also emphasised measures undertaken for further improving water quality and safeguarding the surrounding coastal ecosystems, such as rain water harvesting systems at the port, improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, and cleanup campaigns in neighbouring coastal communities. Work on enhancing biodiversity and ecological balance around the port, including greener landscaping and tree plantation, has also supported these initiatives.

The shift follows increasing global pressure on ports to decarbonise and meet national and international climate action targets. India’s Green Port initiative, which aims to make sustainable practices the norm in port operations, evaluates port performance on several parameters, including energy-efficiency, use of renewable energy, pollution control and so on.

As the port moves from L1 to L2, it is expected to serve as a model for other ports adopting proactive sustainability measures for long-term planning, its positioning in the top-tier environmental management category strengthens its footing as one of India's greener ports.

In recognition, VPA officials reiterated their commitment to work towards "systems improvement", such as increasing the adoption of renewable energy and reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing interaction with the community for environmental concerns. They reported higher green ratings in later cycles as a key strategic priority was still to be achieved.

It reflects efforts to ensure sustainable transport and balance economic development with environmental concerns and places Visakhapatnam Port at the forefront of maritime sustainability in the region.