India Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Ship Recycling as Hong Kong Convention Completes One Year

BHAVNAGAR: Marking the first anniversary of the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), the Directorate General of Shipping reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to promoting safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible ship recycling practices.

The Hong Kong Convention, which came into force on June 26, 2025, represents a landmark global framework aimed at ensuring that ships are recycled in a manner that safeguards human health, occupational safety and the environment while supporting the sustainable growth of the ship recycling industry.

To commemorate this significant milestone, Shri Killi Mohana Rao, Chief Surveyor (I/c), Directorate General of Shipping, along with officers from the Directorate General of Shipping and officials from Mercantile Marine Department (MMD), Kandla, participated in a Round Table Discussion on “Status of the Ship Recycling Industry in India after Implementation of the Hong Kong Convention (HKC): Progress, Challenges and the Way Forward”, held in Bhavnagar.

The event brought together representatives from government agencies, the ship recycling industry, classification societies and other key stakeholders to review India’s progress since the implementation of the Convention and deliberate on future strategies for further strengthening the sector.

Officials from the Directorate General of Shipping actively contributed to three panel discussions, sharing insights on India’s achievements in implementing the Hong Kong Convention, the practical challenges encountered during its execution and the measures required to enhance compliance with international standards. The discussions also focused on advancing safe, environmentally sound and globally competitive ship recycling practices through continuous regulatory improvements, technological advancements and stakeholder collaboration.

The round table served as an important platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices while reinforcing India’s position as one of the world’s leading ship recycling destinations committed to international environmental and safety standards.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to work collectively towards further strengthening the country’s ship recycling ecosystem by promoting sustainability, enhancing worker safety, ensuring environmental protection and improving global competitiveness in line with the objectives of the Hong Kong Convention.