Vaikom’s all-solar dream hits delay, one vessel still awaiting nod

A holdup in regulatory clearance is prolonging the wait for Vaikom to become the country’s first energy-neutral boat station. A couple of months after the State government unveiled plans to replace all three diesel boats in Vaikom with sleek solar-powered vessels, the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) remains caught in a waiting game. On February 20 this year, the department introduced three new solar-powered boats to replace the remaining diesel vessels in service here.

While the green fleet is ready, approval from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) is still pending for one of the boats. Despite simultaneous applications, one vessel continues to remain grounded following its survey assessment. “IRS clearance is non-negotiable when it comes to safety. Until that final nod comes in, the boat stays put,” an official said.