India and the European Union have moved closer to formal regulatory alignment on sustainable ship recycling, with three Indian yards now eligible to seek listing under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). The development follows discussions between Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, who reviewed the audit and compliance process for Indian facilities seeking EU recognition.
Sonowal said more than 30 Indian ship recycling yards have applied for EU recognition, with six currently undergoing the compliance and approval process. He noted that three facilities have completed all required procedures and can now apply for inclusion under the EU regulatory framework. Citing UNCTAD estimates, he highlighted that India’s share of global ship recycling rose from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025, with volumes increasing from 1.86 million gross tons (GT) to 2.99 million GT, a growth of nearly 60%.
The minister positioned India as the world’s leading ship recycling nation and an emerging global hub for safe, environmentally sustainable and responsible ship recycling. He said the government is facilitating EU listing through a transparent process of audits, inspections and regulatory compliance, backed by investments in upgraded infrastructure and operational practices to meet international standards. Indian yards, he added, are supported by environmental and worker welfare measures, including effluent treatment plants, scientific waste management, multi-speciality healthcare facilities supported by the Red Cross Society and dedicated worker housing. Authorities also conduct periodic and unannounced inspections to enforce environmental compliance, worker safety and operational transparency.
Outlining a longer-term roadmap, Sonowal said India aims to recycle nearly 16,000 ships over the next decade and has announced a financial commitment of USD 8 billion for the shipbuilding and ship recycling ecosystem. He said expanding the number of internationally recognised Indian facilities would support the global circular economy by enabling environmentally sound recycling while creating employment and strengthening maritime sustainability.
Roswall welcomed India’s progress and proposed creating a Joint Working Group with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders to coordinate the next phase of cooperation. She underscored the importance of unannounced inspections in maintaining high standards of compliance, transparency and accountability, and said the issue would be discussed with EU member states in the autumn before any final decision. The commissioner also expressed willingness to visit Indian ship recycling facilities after consultations and assessments conclude, and affirmed that the EU’s approach remains aligned with India-EU Free Trade Agreement discussions and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
Both sides framed the talks as part of a growing strategic partnership on sustainable maritime practices. Formal recognition of compliant Indian facilities under the EU framework is expected to expand global recycling capacity, raise environmental and safety standards and support responsible end-of-life ship management across international maritime supply chains.
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