ECSA Urges EU to Approve Two Indian Ship Recycling Yards
The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) has urged Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to support the inclusion of two Indian ship recycling yards on the European Union (EU) Ship Recycling List, citing their compliance with European safety and environmental standards.
The European Parliament’s Environment Committee is scheduled to vote on November 4, 2026, on a motion opposing the European Commission’s proposal to add the two facilities to the list. ECSA has called on MEPs to reject the motion, arguing that recognising compliant facilities would support sustainable ship recycling, reinforce regulatory credibility and acknowledge investments made to meet stringent EU requirements.
Shipping Industry Supports EU Listing
ECSA welcomed the European Commission’s proposal in July 2026. In September, the global shipping industry backed the initiative through a joint industry statement and an open letter urging EU ministers to adopt the proposed list.
“The inclusion of the two Indian yards in the EU list is a long-awaited and very welcome step, which rewards investments made to meet EU standards,” said Sotiris Raptis, secretary general of European Shipowners | ECSA.
He added that opposing the inclusion of facilities that comply with stringent EU safety and environmental standards would undermine the credibility of the EU’s own legislation.
According to ECSA, both Indian yards underwent an extensive inspection process and were found to comply with the requirements of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). The association maintains that facilities outside the EU should be eligible for recognition when they meet the regulation’s safety and environmental requirements.
Read:ILO Chief Visits Pakistan to Advance Ship Recycling Safety and Decent Work
Global Ship Recycling Capacity under Pressure
The debate comes as the shipping industry faces a substantial future demand for ship recycling services. A recent report by the shipping association BIMCO found that approximately 16,000 ships will require recycling over the next decade.
Another BIMCO report highlighted that European ship recycling facilities primarily serve local and offshore markets, both by vessel numbers and size. Much of the new investment in Europe is directed towards offshore decommissioning, which can be significantly more profitable than ship recycling.
Consequently, European facilities do not direct all their capacity towards larger merchant vessels. Accommodating substantial volumes of large, ocean-going ships would require additional space and operational workflows that European yards do not currently have, potentially resulting in significant waiting times.
Read:European Commission Proposes Inclusion of Indian Ship Recycling Facilities in EU Approved List
Balancing Environmental Standards and Recycling Capacity
The proposed listing of the two Indian yards highlights a central challenge for the global ship recycling industry: ensuring rigorous environmental protection and maritime safety while maintaining sufficient capacity to handle end-of-life vessels.
With approximately 16,000 ships expected to require recycling over the next decade, the availability of suitable facilities will remain an important consideration for the shipping industry. Investment in compliant infrastructure and consistent enforcement of environmental and safety requirements are therefore critical to sustainable ship recycling.
ECSA’s position is that ship recycling facilities outside the EU that satisfy the requirements of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation can and should be recognised. The Environment Committee’s November 4 vote will address the motion opposing the Commission’s proposal to include the two Indian yards on the European list.
