The shipping associations BIMCO, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), European Shipowners - ECSA, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Intercargo, Interferry, Intertanko and World Shipping Council (WSC) have submitted an open letter with to which they invite EU Member States to deliver a favourable opinion on the European Commission's proposal to add two plants ship recycling to the updated European List of ship recycling plants ( of 24 July and 2 September 2026).

Noting that inclusion in the list European Union should be based solely on the capacity of the of the plant to meet safety and environmental requirements of the European Ship Recycling Regulation as a result of objective assessments and inspections, the associations have highlighted whereas the shipyards in question have made significant investments to modernise infrastructure, security systems and environmental management in order to comply with the standards of the Hong Kong Convention and European Regulation. BIMCO, CLIA, ECSA, ICS, Intercargo, Interferry, Intertanko and WSC have stressed that these efforts embody the very purpose of the European regulation that aims to reduce disparities between EU, OECD and non-EU operators in terms of occupational health and safety and environmental standards, in support of a globally applicable convention.

The associations pointed out that the two Indian shipyards meet the requirements for their inclusion in the European List, as - they specified - is demonstrated by the reports of inspection, and highlighted that refusing the approval of systems that objectively meet the standards agreed by the EU Member States themselves would be inconsistent and undermine the recognition and credibility of European legislation.

The outcome of the inspections at the two ship recycling plants in Alang-Sosiya, in the Indian state of Gujarat, to which The Shipowners' Associations is summarized in two DNV reports, which conducted the checks. To request inclusion in the European list of ship recycling facilities under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation, Priya Blue Industries and Shree Ram Vessel Scrap, whose establishments have undergone a third on-site inspection in October 2024, after previous checks. In particular, for Priya Blue the first inspection dates back to September 2018, the second to January 2020 and the third to October 26-28, 2024. In the case of Shree Ram The first two checks took place in September 2018 and in October 2019, while the third took place on 23-24 October 2024.

A common element in the two assessments expressed by the DNV on the Two Indian shipyards is improving their procedures and their infrastructure. However, in the case of Priya Blue, DNV could not confirm full compliance with the requirements necessary for inclusion in the European list. The main critical issues identified concern environmental monitoring, the cutting of the double bottom of ships in the intertidal zone, the safety and authorisation of cranes installed on barges, lifting equipment and loads, drainage system and the possible need for a plant for the treatment of water systems, as well as hydrants and waste routes to the treatment plants. According to DNV, the procedures are substantially adequate, but their systematic application in the normal demolition operations have yet to be demonstrated.

On the other hand, more marked progress has been found for Shree Ram. The third inspection, in particular, allowed DNV to monitor the implementation of the changes introduced after the previous visits, in particular for leak control and the management of operations in the intertidal zone. The construction site, in fact, it also uses the beaching method, bringing progressively the ship to be scrapped to the shore during high tide, and using a crane installed on a pontoon to transfer waste and blockages to areas with non-impermeable pavement as soon as possible. DNV has considered the measures taken to prevent spills and leaks are satisfactory in the intertidal zone, while also emphasizing for Shree Ram the importance of the entire operational sequence being completed within the period of low tide.