DG Shipping leads Dialogue on Safer, Sustainable Green Ship Recycling in India
MUMBAI : The Directorate General of Shipping convened a high-level meeting on August 5th to chart a forward-looking course for India’s ship recycling sector, with a sharp focus on sustainability, safety, and worker welfare.
The delegation included Mr. Satoshi Sasaki, Deputy Director, International Labour Organization (ILO); Mr. Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid, Consul / Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Mumbai; Mr. Vidyadhar Rane, General Secretary, ASSRGWA; and Mr. Vikas Nalawade, Treasurer, ASSRGWA.
While discussions were anchored around the upcoming Norway-India Collaborative Workshop on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)—scheduled for August 21–22 in Bhavnagar—they expanded into broader strategies shaping the future of ship recycling in India.
Key priorities outlined included:
- Implementing the Hong Kong Convention in sync with ISO standards
- Modernizing Alang’s infrastructure and integrating advanced Occupational Health & Safety frameworks
- Leveraging the Ferrous Scrap Development Fund (FSDF) for facility upgrades and workforce welfare
- Enhancing technical safety, life-saving apparatus availability, and structured worker training
- Shifting from commercial-centric to responsible, safe recycling practices
- Drafting a five-year roadmap balancing environmental goals with worker well-being
- Establishing global-standard SOPs for operational excellence
- Setting up the Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC) in collaboration with Ganpat University
The meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to building a ship recycling industry that is green, compliant, safe, and globally respected, setting benchmarks in both environmental stewardship and human-centric operations.