India Targets Recycling 16,000 Ships Over Next Decade, Commits $8 Billion To Maritime Sector

India plans to recycle nearly 16,000 ships over the next 10 years and has committed $8 billion to support the growth of its shipbuilding and ship recycling industries, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday.

The announcement came as India and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to working together on sustainable ship recycling and reviewed progress on bringing Indian ship recycling facilities under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR).

During a meeting with European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, Sonowal said adding more internationally recognised Indian recycling yards would help the global circular economy by promoting environmentally responsible ship recycling, creating jobs and supporting sustainable growth in the maritime sector.

According to an official statement, the two sides reviewed the ongoing audits and compliance checks of Indian ship recycling yards seeking approval under the EU framework.

Roswall welcomed the progress made so far and proposed setting up a Joint Working Group (JWG) with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and other relevant ministries and organisations to help coordinate the next stage of the process.

She also highlighted the importance of unannounced inspections to maintain high standards of compliance, transparency and accountability.

The statement said the issue will be discussed with EU member states during their autumn session before any final decision is made.

Roswall also expressed her willingness to visit Indian ship recycling facilities after the consultation and assessment process is completed.

The statement said recognition of Indian ship recycling facilities under the EU framework would strengthen global ship recycling capacity, improve environmental and safety standards, and support responsible end-of-life management of ships while making global maritime supply chains more resilient and sustainable.

India has also expanded its share of the global ship recycling market.

According to the latest estimates from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India’s share of global ship recycling increased from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025.

The country recycled 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) of ships in 2025, up nearly 60% from 1.86 million GT in 2024.

Sonowal said the government is helping Indian ship recycling yards gain international recognition through a transparent process of audits, inspections and regulatory compliance.

He added that Indian recycling facilities have invested heavily in improving infrastructure and operations to meet international standards.

According to the minister, Indian ship recycling yards are equipped with environmental infrastructure such as effluent treatment plants and scientific waste management systems.

Worker welfare measures include multi-speciality healthcare facilities supported by the Red Cross Society and dedicated housing for workers.

Sonowal also said the government carries out both scheduled and surprise inspections to ensure environmental compliance, worker safety and operational transparency are maintained.

References: PTI, thehindubusinessline