The Directorate General of Shipping and Gujarat Maritime Board, in collaboration with the Ship Recycling Industries Association and the Institute of Marine Engineers India, organized a one-day workshop on “Entry into Force of the Hong Kong Convention – The Way Forward” in Bhavnagar, Gujarat on 30th June. The event marked a significant milestone in the enforcement of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).
The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS, Vice Chairman & CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board. The gathering was attended by a diverse array of stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Directorate General of Shipping, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), and local district administration. Additionally, representatives from regulatory bodies, ship recycling industry associations, classification societies, trade unions, workers’ associations, and other relevant stakeholders were also present.
In his address, Chief Guest Mr Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the National Authority and the Competent Authority. He proposed a five-point mechanism for the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to enhance cooperation and efficiency in ship recycling. The proposed mechanism includes:
- Developing a structured digital platform for seamless coordination, compliance verification, and third-party inspections
- Sharing GMB’s long-term Master Plan for expansion activities along the Alang-Sosia belt, including TSDF facility development proposals
- Institutionalizing training programs for capacity-building of workers, along with structured courses for sustainable recycling
- Extending successful wellness and inclusion initiatives, such as “Sagar Mei Yog” and “Sagar Mei Samman,” to the ship recycling workforce to promote physical and mental wellness and gender equality
- Establishing an annual forum hosted by GMB to bring together national and international stakeholders and discuss best practices, innovations, and compliance pathways in ship recycling
Additionally, Mr Jagannathan requested GMB to submit Detailed Project Reports for coordinated implementation with local authorities to enhance social and public infrastructure, focusing on improving living conditions, health services, and overall welfare of workers engaged in ship recycling activities. He also emphasized the need for standardization of activities in ship recycling.
The felicitation session featured a series of insightful addresses from industry experts and dignitaries. Shri Ajithkumar Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor cum Additional Director General (Engg), highlighted the nation-building potential of ship recycling, while Shri Vipul Singhal, IRTS, Director, MoPSW, discussed the Ministry’s initiatives to promote sustainable practices. Other speakers, including Shri Santosh Kumar Darokar, Principal Officer, MMD, Kandla, and District Collector Bhavnagar, Dr. Manish Kumar IAS, emphasized the need for care and attention to crew members and welcomed the implementation of the HKC. The event showcased a strong sense of collaboration and commitment to the growth of the ship recycling industry.
The event featured two insightful presentations. Mr Beniwal, IAS, Vice Chairman & CEO of Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), presented an overview of ship recycling in Alang, highlighting the infrastructure development initiatives and future plans. This was followed by a presentation by Shri Haresh Parmar, Secretary of SRIA, on material recovery from ship recycling, which underscored the significant environmental benefits achieved through this process.
Industry leaders Mr Satish Singh, COO of Priya Blue Industries, Mr Uday Agarwal, Director of Alang Auto Engineering, and Mr Rohit Agarwal of GGSBY Industries Private Ltd, presented on the critical topic of HKC compliance and EU preparedness of Alang yards, highlighting their efforts to meet international standards.
Mr Gopi Krishna C, Engineer & Ship Surveyor cum DDG (Tech), DGS, Mumbai, delivered a presentation on HKC implementation, covering the existing and upcoming regulatory framework, roles and responsibilities of various agencies, and the experience-building phase of IMO. He also outlined the futuristic steps that stakeholders need to take to ensure effective implementation.
The event also featured presentations from leading classification societies, including:
- Mr Amol Bande, Senior Surveyor, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), who discussed safety and training aspects required for HKC implementation
- Mr Shobhit Kapoor, Marine Operations Manager, Lloyd’s Register Marine and Offshore Services India LLP, who highlighted challenges in upstream and downstream management of hazardous materials
- Mr Ashish Matta, Manager, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (NKK), who spoke on HKC implementation and the next challenge in the transformation of the ship recycling industry, focusing on the preparation of Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) using a web-based system
The event was graced by the presence of Mr Gopinandan P, Engineer & Ship Surveyor, MMD, Kandla. Mr Sanjeev Mehra, Honorary Secretary of the Institute of Marine Engineers (IMEI) Mumbai Chapter, skillfully moderated the proceedings. Capt Rakesh Mishra, Port Officer, Alang, delivered the vote of thanks, bringing the event to a successful close.
Marex Media