India and the European Union on Wednesday, 1 July reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in sustainable ship recycling, with both sides reviewing the ongoing audit and compliance process for Indian ship recycling yards seeking recognition under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR). The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed the development following a bilateral meeting in New Delhi.

The Bilateral Meeting

The discussions took place between Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall. The two sides assessed the compliance pipeline for Indian facilities seeking entry into the EU-approved list of ship recycling yards.

Sonowal said more than 30 Indian ship recycling yards have applied for recognition under the EU framework. Of these, six facilities are currently undergoing the compliance and approval process, while three have successfully completed all required compliance procedures and are now eligible to formally apply for inclusion under the EUSRR.

India's Growing Share in Global Ship Recycling

Citing the latest estimates from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Sonowal noted that India's share in global ship recycling rose from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025. During 2025, India recycled 2.99 million gross tons (GT) of ships — a growth of nearly 60% over the 1.86 million GT recycled in 2024.

This comes amid a broader push by the Centre to position India as the world's foremost hub for safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling. Notably, the rapid rise in India's global share in a single year underscores the scale of investment and regulatory effort being deployed across yards, particularly in Alang, Gujarat, which handles the bulk of India's recycling capacity.

Infrastructure and Compliance Measures

The minister highlighted that Indian ship recycling facilities are backed by robust environmental and worker welfare infrastructure, including effluent treatment plants, scientific waste management systems, multi-speciality healthcare facilities supported by the Red Cross Society, and dedicated housing for workers.

The government, Sonowal added, conducts both periodic and surprise inspections to ensure strict compliance with environmental norms, worker safety standards, and operational transparency. Facilities have invested significantly in upgrading infrastructure and operational practices to meet international standards, he said.

What the EUSRR Recognition Means

Inclusion on the EUSRR-approved list allows European-flagged ships to be legally recycled at a listed facility — a commercially significant designation given Europe's large fleet. Currently, the list is dominated by yards in Turkey and a handful of other countries. Indian yards gaining recognition would open a major new revenue stream and validate India's regulatory standards on the global stage.

The compliance process involves independent audits and inspections aligned with the Hong Kong International Convention standards. With three Indian yards now eligible to formally apply and six more in the pipeline, the pace of recognition is expected to accelerate through 2025–26.

What Comes Next

Both sides are expected to continue engagement through established India-EU maritime channels. The progression of the remaining six yards through the compliance process will be a key indicator of how quickly India can expand its EUSRR-listed footprint. Industry observers will watch whether the EU accelerates its review timelines, given India's rapidly growing share of global recycling volume.