Controversy Heats Up in Alang Over New Mandate for Emergency Towing Vessels; Recyclers Oppose DG Shipping Order
BHAVNAGAR: A major controversy has erupted at the world-renowned Alang Ship Breaking Yard following a fresh directive aimed at enhancing navigational and environmental safety in the Gulf of Khambhat. The Ship Recycling Industries Association (SRIA) has strongly opposed a strict order issued by the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), which mandates the deployment of two Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) to tackle any potential disasters along the Alang coast.
The friction escalated as the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) initiated steps to implement the new safety regulations, putting it on a direct collision course with the local ship recycling industry.
Whose Responsibility is Safety? Ask Recyclers
Vehemently opposing the rule, the SRIA has formally raised its grievances with authorities. Industry representatives argue that ensuring the safety and maintenance of marine navigation routes from the offshore anchorage point to the specific beaching plots is legally the sole responsibility of the Port Authority.
“Ship recyclers regularly pay port dues and pilotage charges to the authorities for these services,” an association representative stated. “A plot holder’s role is strictly confined to the dismantling of a vessel once it is safely beached. Forcing private recyclers to bear the multi-crore financial burden of maintaining emergency tugs is legally unjustified.”
Industry experts also warned that decentralising core safety responsibilities away from public port authorities could lead to a lack of coordination during actual maritime emergencies.
GMB Steps In to Break Deadlock
With the standoff threatening operations at the yard, the Gujarat Maritime Board has swung into action to find an amicable solution. GMB Chief Nautical Officer, Captain B.N. Ladva, has directed Alang’s Port Officer to carve out a workable middle path.
To resolve the impasse, GMB is convening a joint high-level meeting involving Alang and Bhavnagar-based tug operators, shipping agents, and SRIA representatives. The meeting aims to clarify the technicalities of the DGS safety mandate and address the financial anxieties of the stakeholders.
Meanwhile, as an immediate precautionary measure, the GMB has issued stringent orders to conduct mandatory advance safety inspections on all incoming vessels arriving at Alang for dismantling.
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