India and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to working together on sustainable ship recycling, with both sides expressing confidence in the progress being made toward getting Indian facilities included under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). The matter came up during 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, where the two sides reviewed the ongoing audit and compliance process for Indian yards seeking recognition under the EU framework.
Sonowal said more than 30 Indian ship recycling yards have applied for EU recognition, with six currently in the compliance and approval pipeline. Three of them have cleared all required procedures and are now eligible to formally apply for inclusion under the EUSRR framework. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has emerged as the world’s leading ship recycling nation and is steadily strengthening its position as a global hub for safe, environmentally sustainable and responsible ship recycling,” Sonowal said.
India’s growing share in global ship recycling
The numbers back that claim up. According to the latest UNCTAD estimates, India’s share in global ship recycling climbed from 30.1 per cent in 2024 to 35.4 per cent in 2025. The country recycled 2.99 million gross tons (GT) of ships during 2025, which is nearly 60 per cent more than the 1.86 million GT recycled the year before. Sonowal said the government has been facilitating the listing of Indian yards through transparent audits, inspections, and regulatory compliance processes, and that facilities across the country have invested substantially in upgrading infrastructure and operations to meet international standards.
Environmental standards and worker welfare
On the ground conditions at Indian ship recycling facilities, Sonowal pointed to robust environmental infrastructure and worker welfare measures in place, including effluent treatment plants, scientific waste management systems, multi-speciality healthcare facilities supported by the Red Cross Society, and dedicated housing for workers. He also said the government carries out both periodic and unannounced inspections to keep environmental compliance, worker safety, and operational transparency consistently in check.
Looking further ahead, Sonowal outlined India’s ambition to recycle nearly 16,000 ships over the next decade, backed by a financial commitment of USD 8 billion to support growth across the shipbuilding and ship recycling sectors. He said getting more Indian facilities onto the international recognition list would meaningfully contribute to the global circular economy by promoting sound recycling practices while also generating employment and reinforcing maritime sustainability.
EU proposes joint working group
Commissioner Roswall welcomed the progress made so far and proposed setting up a Joint Working Group (JWG) made up of representatives from India’s Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries and organisations. She underlined the importance of unannounced inspections in keeping compliance and accountability standards high, while noting that the matter would go to EU member states for discussion during the autumn session before any final decision is reached. Roswall also said she would be willing to visit Indian ship recycling facilities once the consultation and assessment process wraps up.
She reaffirmed that the EU’s position remains consistent with the outcomes of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement discussions and the provisions of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. Getting compliant Indian facilities formally recognised under the EU framework is expected to strengthen global recycling capacity, raise environmental and safety standards, and support responsible end-of-life ship management, while also reinforcing the resilience of global maritime supply chains more broadly.
Key Takeaway: India and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing sustainable ship recycling through continued cooperation on the recognition of Indian ship recycling facilities under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). More than 30 Indian yards have applied for recognition, six are under compliance and approval, and three have completed all required procedures to become eligible for formal inclusion under the EU framework, supporting higher environmental and safety standards, responsible end-of-life ship management, stronger global recycling capacity and more resilient global maritime supply chains.
M.C.Q.
Question 1: The European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR) primarily deals with:
- A. Registration of merchant ships
- B. Safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships
- C. Prevention of marine piracy
- D. Regulation of international shipping tariffs
Question 2: The global convention that establishes standards for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships is the:
- A. MARPOL Convention
- B. SOLAS Convention
- C. Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
- D. Ballast Water Management Convention
