European Commissions audits Shree Ram Group recycling yard

Shree Ram Group said Thursday the European Commission has audited its recycling yard at Alang in Gujarat for the inclusion in the EU list of approved ports.

The facility is among the first Indian yards audited by the European Commission and its inclusion in the EU list could help accelerate the transformation underway in the ship recycling industry in India, the company said in a statement.

The European Commission (EC) visited Alang to assess two of the 11 Indian yards which have applied to be included in the EU list of yards where EU-flagged vessels can be dismantled.

It said it is a big step forward for an Industry that employs close to 15,000 people in Alang alone and traditionally follows unsafe practices in the dismantling of vessels thereby posing a threat to the people employed as well as the surrounding environment.

The ECs audit indicates that progress in these yards has come far enough for the EU to consider the application relevant for assessment. We are moving away from traditionally substandard working conditions and proving that responsible, and commercial ship recycling can be done successfully in India if provided with the right skills, mindset and investments," Chetan Patel, Owner and Director of the Shree Ram Group said.