Breaking Boundaries in Alang: Trade Unions and Leela Group Team Up for Green Ship Recycling
ALANG, INDIA — In a major step toward building a more transparent and inclusive ship recycling ecosystem, a high-level trade union delegation recently completed a milestone site visit to Plot 35, operated by the prominent Leela Group. The visit signaled a growing push to expand the boundaries of labor rights and environmental safety in one of the world’s most critical maritime hubs.
The delegation, which advocates for thousands of industrial and maritime workers, was warmly received by the management at the yard. Leading the tour was Prabhat Kumar, head of the Health, Safety, Environment, Quality, Energy, and Naval Architecture (HSEQEn/NA) department across Leela Group’s four facilities in Alang.
A Firsthand Look at Green Recycling
The primary focus of the tour revolved around the shifting landscape of global maritime compliance. The Leela Group has emerged as one of the region’s progressive employers, demonstrating that safety compliance can align with robust productivity. During the walkthrough, Kumar outlined the extensive engineering controls and safety features built into the facility to protect workers from standard industrial hazards.
The delegation arrived just as the yard took delivery of a massive decommissioned vessel. Kumar walked the visitors through the carefully sequenced, step-by-step procedure required for responsible ship recycling.
Currently, the newly arrived vessel is anchored offshore, waiting to be pulled flush against the yard’s specialized, impermeable concrete floor. This specialized flooring acts as a barrier, preventing heavy metals, oils, and toxic residues from seeping into the coastal soil and water. Once secured, the ship will be progressively dismantled in strict accordance with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
Pioneering Labor Integration
Beyond structural safety, the visit highlighted a unique social milestone. Joining the delegation for the first time were representatives from the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). These women represent the backbone of the downstream scrap industry—processing, sorting, and trading materials recovered from the vessels.
“Even though these women are vital links in the ship recycling value chain, they had never actually stood inside a primary yard before today,” noted one senior member of the visiting delegation.
The inclusion of SEWA highlights a healthy corporate culture. Leela Group has famously maintained an “open-door policy” for independent labor observers and keeps a close, constructive relationship with the local union, the Alang Ship Recycling and General Workers Association (ASSRGWA). The yard provides dedicated employee accommodation and various social benefits, setting a competitive benchmark for worker welfare in the area.
The Next Frontier: Downstream Accountability
However, the union leaders emphasized that looking after primary shipyard workers is only half the battle. The delegation concluded the visit with a call to action aimed at the broader international maritime industry.
The next critical evolution in green recycling is integrating the downstream industry. The delegation firmly believes that the financial and environmental burden of cleaning up these massive structures shouldn’t fall solely on the dismantling yards or the local communities.
Industry advocates are now pushing for global shipowners to step up and take greater responsibility for the hazards present on their outdated vessels. By contributing directly to clean-up funds, shipowners can help subsidize the steep costs of downstream scrap processing and safe hazardous waste disposal. True accountability, the delegation argues, begins at sea and shouldn’t end until the very last piece of steel is safely melted down.
Author: shipping inbox
shipping and maritime related web portal
