GMS, the largest global buyer of ships for recycling, is urging the European Commission to approve qualified Indian ship recycling facilities for inclusion on the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) list. Despite over 110 Indian yards holding compliance statements and numerous formal applications and inspections, no Indian yard has been approved in over a decade. GMS attributes this to a lack of political will rather than a failure in standards or verification.
India has recycled over 8,500 vessels, recovering more than 67 million tonnes of steel, with Alang’s capacity exceeding that of all facilities currently on the European List. GMS highlights that 75% of the hull steel recycled at Alang is re-rolled without energy-intensive processes, resulting in significantly lower CO₂ emissions compared to virgin steel production. In contrast, European facilities often melt steel before exporting scrap to Asia.
The Commission’s refusal to list Indian yards is based on outdated regulations, despite India’s advancements in ship recycling practices. GMS calls for the European Commission to approve these yards, recognize the Hong Kong Convention as the primary framework, and resolve regulatory conflicts through facility assessments. With an estimated 15,000 vessels needing recycling by 2032, the current European List lacks the capacity to handle this volume, while India’s recycling sector supports numerous jobs.
