European Shipowners Welcome Inclusion of Two Indian Yards on the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities

The European Commission has published a formal proposal to add two Indian ship recycling facilities to the updated 16th edition of the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities, marking the first proposed inclusion of South Asian yards under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation. European Shipowners, also known as ECSA, has strongly welcomed the European Commission's proposal. Under European legislation, merchant vessels flying the flag of an EU member state are legally required to be recycled exclusively at facilities approved on the European List.

Identification of the Approved Facilities

The proposal explicitly names two recycling facilities situated in Alang, India, which have successfully demonstrated compliance with European standards. The identified facilities are Shree Ram Vessel Scrap Pvt Ltd / Shree Ram Shipping Industries Pvt Ltd, located at Plot No 78/81, and YSI Recyclers LLP, situated at Plot No 59. Following thorough evaluations conducted under Article 15 of the regulation, the European Commission confirmed that both facilities meet the required criteria set out in Article 13 to conduct safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.

The proposal names two recycling facilities situated in Alang, India, which have successfully demonstrated compliance with European standards.

Recognition from Industry Leadership

European Shipowners has actively advocated for the inclusion of compliant non-OECD facilities since the entry into force of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of European Shipowners, welcomed the decision as a significant milestone for the international maritime industry. "This is a long-awaited and very welcome step, which rewards the investments these yards have made to meet EU standards. We now count on policymakers to swiftly finalise and adopt the List so that the two facilities can be approved without further delay, and we hope to see more compliant non-OECD yards making the List in the future," stated Raptis.

Addressing Global Capacity Challenges

Beyond its practical significance for shipowners, the proposal sends a strong political signal that non-OECD yards meeting the safety and environmental requirements of the regulation can and should be recognised. Providing sufficient recycling capacity is crucial to making European standards effective on a global scale. "Addressing the capacity challenge is essential if the European List is to work as an incentive for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling worldwide," Raptis added.

This aligns with an independent study published in June 2026 by European Shipowners and the International Chamber of Shipping, which highlighted global progress since the entry into force of the International Maritime Organization Hong Kong Convention and urged European policymakers to facilitate the inclusion of compliant non-OECD yards.

Public Consultation and Final Adoption Timeline

The European Commission's proposal to update the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities (16th edition) is open for public consultation until 30 August 2026. Following the conclusion of the consultation phase, the proposal will be submitted for voting and formal adoption by the 27 member states of the European Union in October 2026. The final approval will provide shipowners with expanded opportunities to recycle large ocean-going vessels responsibly while maintaining high environmental and safety standards.