Environmental Ship Index (ESI)

Mormugao port recently became India's pioneering port to implement Green Ship Incentives under the ESI.

• Environmental Ship Index (ESI) identifies seagoing ships that perform better in reducing air emissions than required by the current emission standards of the International Maritime Organization.
• The ESI evaluates the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOX), sulphur oxide (SOX) that is released by a ship and includes a reporting scheme on the greenhouse gas emission of the ship.
• The ESI is a good indication of the environmental performance of ocean-going vessels and will assist in identifying cleaner ships in a general way.
• All stakeholders in maritime transport can use the ESI as a means to improve their environmental performance and as an instrument to reach their sustainability goals.

Environmental Ship Index (ESI) is one of the projects within World Port Sustainability Program (WPSP), founded by International Association of Ports and Harbours in 2018.

The World Ports Sustainability Program aims to enhance and coordinate future sustainability efforts of ports worldwide and foster international cooperation with partners in the supply chain.

• Mormugao Port – Is India’s first port to introduce Green Ship Incentives through the ESI, aligning with global efforts to reduce air emissions in shipping. (Statement 3 is incorrect)
• Mormugao Port Authority has gained global recognition by being listed as an incentive provider on the Environment Ship Index (ESI) portal, acknowledged by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).
• This achievement highlights the port’s commitment to promoting environmentally friendly practices for seagoing vessels.
• Mormugao stands out in Asia alongside Japan and Oman, which also offer similar incentives.
• Harit Shrey – Is a scheme that was launched in October 2023 that offers port fee discounts based on ESI ratings of commercial ships.
• The “Harit Shrey” initiative has provided benefits to numerous vessels, encouraging eco-friendly practices.

Meteorites

• Meteoroids – These rocks still are in space. Meteoroids range in size from dust grains to small asteroids.
• Meteors – When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors.
• Meteorites – When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite.

The largest meteorite found on Earth is the Hoba meteorite discovered in Namibia in 1920.

• Only when a fireball reaches Earth’s surface is it called a meteorite.
• Asteroids are the primary sources of meteorites.
• Most asteroids reside in a dense belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• They are commonly designated as 3 types:
  1. Stony meteorites
  2. Iron meteorites
  3. Stony-iron meteorites
• Stony meteorites are made up of minerals that contain silicates—material made of silicon and oxygen.
• They also contain some metal—nickel and iron.
• There are 2 major types of stony meteorites:
  1. Chondrites
  2. Achondrites
• The most common meteorites are the chondrites, which have round objects inside that appear to have formed as melt droplets.
• Chondrites comprise 85% of all meteorites found on Earth.
• Ordinary chondrites are then divided into 3 broad classes such as H, L and LL, based on the iron content of the meteorites.
• The distribution of iron and magnesium in the major minerals olivine and pyroxene.
• These silicate minerals are the mineral building blocks of our Solar System and are common on Earth, being present in basalt.
• Carbonaceous chondrites are a distinct group.
• They contain high amounts of water in clay minerals, and organic materials such as amino acids.
• Chondrites have never been melted and are direct samples of the dust that originally formed the solar system.

Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID)

• The origins of FSID go back to 1991 when SID (Society for Innovation and Development) was set up in close collaboration with IISc within its sylvan, historic campus.
• At inception, its mission was to use the incredible repository of knowledge, world class infrastructure and talent present within IISc to help business enterprises and thereby the economy and the nation at large.
• Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) was incorporated on 8th August 2020 as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It acts a single window of access for all stakeholders to the deep science and deep tech knowledge within IISc.
• It provides a 360 degree set of offerings that facilitates the delivery of its objectives.
• FSID is promoted by Indian Institute of Science and was incorporated to further this original mission.

Giant Salmon Carp

Giant Salmon Carp is a huge fish in the Mekong River thought to be extinct has been spotted three times in recent years.

• The giant salmon carp is a predatory fish can grow up to 4 feet in length, and has a conspicuous knob at the tip of its lower jaw.
• A striking patch of yellow surrounds its large eyes.
• It is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae and the single species in the monotypic genus Aaptosyax.
• IUCN Red List Status – Critically Endangered (CR).
• Giant salmon carp is a powerful reminder of the rich biodiversity still present in the Mekong River.
• It is not endemic to India.
• Significance – The Mekong is like a "fish superhighway".
• It produces over 2 million tons of fish yearly, worth more than $10 billion.
• It supports about 40 million people who depend on its fish
• Of its 1,100 plus fish species, 25% are found nowhere else on Earth.
• Threats – Habitat degradation, overfishing and dam construction have caused widespread harm to the river and its species.
• Climate change poses a new and growing threat, as the region faces more prolonged drought and more severe floods.
• To address these issues, scientists are calling for a comprehensive, multi-faceted conservation strategy.

Great Eared Nightjar (Lyncornis macrotis)

• The Great Eared Nightjar is one of the most mesmerizing creatures, due to its striking resemblance with a mythical dragon, especially when perched.
• The name 'nightjar' comes from the bird's nocturnal habits and the fact that its calls are often described as jarring.
• They belong to a small group of eared nightjars within the larger nightjar family Caprimulgida.
• Appearance – They have large, forward-facing eyes, big head and intricate patterning of brown, black and grey on its feathers.
• Features – Nightjars are well known for their silent flight, which is due to the structure of their feathers.
• Since they are nocturnal, they fly at dusk or dawn to search for food.
• They lay the eggs directly on the forest floor.
• Range – They can be found from parts of India and Sri Lanka to the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
• It is native to Southeast Asia's dense forests.
• IUCN – The bird is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.