A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and the Directorate General of Shipping visited the Alang Ship Recycling Yard this week to address critical regulatory bottlenecks and outline a roadmap for doubling India’s recycling capacity by 2030.
The delegation included Mr Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW; Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping; Mr Nilabhra Dasgupta, Deputy Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA); and Capt. Santoshkumar Darokar, Principal Officer, MMD Kandla.
Strategic discussions & policy interventions
The visit focused on transitioning Alang into a global “Green Recycling” hub, specifically addressing the recent Ship Recycling Regulations 2026 and the global enforcement of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC). As per a release, key issues discussed included:
Ship Recycling Credit Notes: The delegation reviewed the implementation of the `4,001 crore credit note scheme. Under this initiative, shipowners scrapping vessels in India receive a credit worth 40% of the scrap value, which can be used for new shipbuilding at Indian yards, fostering a circular maritime economy.
BIS Regulations for Steel Reuse: A major highlight was the push to ease Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms (specifically IS 1786) to allow recycled ship steel to be more seamlessly integrated into the production of TMT bars. This move is expected to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the domestic construction industry.
Sanctioned Vessel Protocols: The members discussed standardised operating procedures (SOPs) for the smooth recycling of sanctioned vessels, ensuring India remains a preferred destination for complex dismantling projects while maintaining international legal compliance.
EU SRR Certification: With the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR) maintaining higher thresholds than the HKC, the delegation discussed strategies to secure more Alang yards on the “EU-Approved List” to capture the lucrative European market.
Regulatory Streamlining: To improve Ease of Doing Business, the Secretary addressed the issue of multiple agencies imposing overlapping penalties. A proposal for a “Single Window” oversight mechanism was deliberated to prevent administrative friction.
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