A🇳 Introduction to India’s Ship-Breaking Industry (Alang, Gujarat) In Context of the Hong Kong Convention & the Role of MOEFCC.

Here's a clear and concise introduction to India’s Ship-Breaking Industry (specifically at Alang, Gujarat) in the context of the Hong Kong Convention and the role of MOEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change):

🔹 Overview of Alang – World's Largest Ship-Breaking Yard

Located on the western coast of India in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, Alang is home to the world’s largest ship-breaking yard, covering more than 10 km of coastline along the Gulf of Khambhat.

Since its establishment in the 1980s, Alang has become the global hub for end-of-life ships, dismantling hundreds of vessels annually and recycling millions of tons of steel and other materials.

🔹 Economic and Strategic Significance

• Contributes 30–35% of India’s demand for scrap steel.
• Provides direct employment to over 30,000 workers, many of whom are migrants.
• Indirect employment to thousands through downstream industries.
• Plays a critical role in the circular economy, recovering valuable materials like copper, aluminum, and machinery.

🔹 Environmental and Safety Challenges

While Alang contributes significantly to resource recovery, the traditional 'beaching' method of dismantling ships has drawn criticism due to:

• Toxic waste release: asbestos, heavy metals, PCBs, and oil residues.
• Poor worker safety and health conditions.
• Environmental damage to the coastal ecosystem (intertidal zones, mangroves, and marine life).

⚖️ Hong Kong Convention & India’s Compliance

🛳️ The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (2009)

The HKC, adopted by the IMO, sets international standards to:

• Ensure safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.
• Mandate ships to carry an Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM).
• Certify and monitor recycling yards for environmental and safety compliance.

✅ India’s Position

India became the first South Asian country to ratify the Hong Kong Convention in November 2019, demonstrating a significant policy shift toward global compliance and sustainable ship recycling.

To operationalize HKC standards, the Government of India enacted:

📜 The Recycling of Ships Act, 2019

Key features:

• Brings India’s ship recycling in alignment with the HKC.
• Requires ships to carry IHM.
• Mandates authorization and regulation of ship recycling facilities.
• Empowers designated authorities to monitor and enforce compliance.

🌿 Role of MOEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)

The MOEFCC is a key regulatory body in ensuring that environmental norms are followed during ship recycling. Its responsibilities include:

• Granting Environmental Clearances (ECs) to ship-breaking yards.
• Monitoring compliance with the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.
• Enforcing guidelines under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
• Collaborating with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for local monitoring.

✅ Progress toward Green Ship Recycling at Alang

• Over 90 yards at Alang have received HKC-compliant certification.
• Many yards are also certified under ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety).
• Development of Common Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) near Alang.
• Adoption of non-beaching methods in select yards, including use of semi-dry docks and cranes.

🧭 Conclusion

India’s Alang ship-breaking yard is transitioning from a traditionally polluting industry to a global model of sustainable ship recycling, thanks to the enforcement of the Hong Kong Convention and regulatory oversight from MOEFCC.

With continued investment, policy support, and stakeholder collaboration, Alang is poised to lead in green ship recycling, balancing economic growth with environmental and human health protection.

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