EU Commission Defends Proposed Inclusion of Indian Shipbreaking Yards on Approved Green List
BRUSSELS — The European Commission has mounted a firm defense of its proposal to include two Indian shipbreaking yards on the approved European List of ship recycling facilities, addressing sharp pushback from several European Union Member States over environmental safeguards and beaching methods.
The clarifications were issued in an official document following a meeting of the Ship Recycling Regulation Committee. The query was driven by written inquiries from seven EU nations: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The Member States questioned whether the facilities in Alang, India—Priya Blue Industries’ associated yard YSI and Shree Ram Vessel Scrap—fully comply with stringent EU safety and environmental criteria.
Scrutiny Over Tidal Dismantling and Beaching
A central point of concern raised by Member States was the use of the beaching method and operations in the intertidal zone, where changing tides pose potential risks of hazardous runoff into the sea.
The Commission clarified that the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (SRR) does not require a uniform physical configuration for yards, but rather looks at the combination of infrastructure, operational procedures, and emergency response. According to the Commission, the steel hull of the vessel itself acts as the primary impermeable containment barrier during initial cutting and lightening operations.
Addressing the cutting of vessel double bottoms, the Commission noted that for YSI, dismantling occurs only after the hull is winched across the drainage line onto an impermeable concrete floor equipped with drainage systems and slag collectors. Shree Ram similarly utilizes welded containment methods synchronized with tidal planning, as well as a newly constructed slipway ramp that allows pulling sections onto paved surfaces.
The Commission also dismissed satellite imagery submitted by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform alleging non-compliance at YSI, pointing out that date-verified Gujarat Maritime Board records showed no vessels were undergoing cutting on the plot during the cited periods.
Waste Management and Landfill Capacity
Member States also questioned whether downstream waste disposal in Gujarat meets standards “broadly equivalent” to European Union benchmarks.
The Commission noted that earlier gaps in environmental monitoring have been resolved through certified monitoring programs measuring heavy metals and other pollutants against international baselines. On local waste treatment, the Commission confirmed that the common hazardous waste management facility, GEPIL, completed an incinerator upgrade operational since late August 2026, alongside an expanded landfill capacity of 25,000 cubic meters providing an estimated seven to eight years of disposal headroom.
Legal and Market Considerations
Responding to legal inquiries regarding the Basel Ban Amendment—which forbids the export of hazardous waste from the EU to developing nations—the Commission emphasized that European legislation strictly prohibits vessels that become waste within EU jurisdiction from being exported to non-OECD countries. However, EU-flagged vessels operating internationally that reach end-of-life status outside Union waters are governed under the SRR and may be dismantled in approved third-country facilities on the European List.
The Commission further countered concerns that approving Indian facilities would undermine European circular economy ambitions under the ResourceEU Action Plan by leaking scrap metal. It noted that existing EU domestic yards have limited capacity for large commercial vessels, making exclusive dismantling within Europe unrealistic for the global fleet.
Once listed, the Indian facilities will be subject to ongoing oversight, including regular midterm and renewal reviews, as well as unannounced on-site inspections.
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