NMF’S FIELD VISIT TO ALANG, GUJARAT

The team from the National Maritime Foundation, consisting of Commodore Debesh Lahiri (Executive Director), Rhythma Kaul (Associate Fellow), and Ayushi Srivastava (Research Associate), conducted a visit to the ship recycling yards and related facilities in Alang, Gujarat. This visit is part of an ongoing project titled “Sustainable Ship Recycling in India,” which has received sponsorship from the Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL).

Throughout the field visit, the team engaged with key stakeholders, including senior officials from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) in Alang and Gandhinagar, owners and top management of Ship Recycling Yards, representatives from Alang Sosiya Ship Recycling and General Worker’s Association (ASSRGWA), and met with the Chairman and General Secretary of the Ship Recycling Industries Association. The team also inspected various sites such as the Red Cross Multispecialty Hospital, residential quarters for ASSBY workers, the Safety, Training and Labour Welfare Institute, and the Treatment Storage Disposal Facility (TSDF).

One of the highlights of the visit was the opportunity to board a ship undergoing recycling, providing invaluable insights for the project. Additionally, Team NMF conducted a pilot boarding vessel operation and visited the Bhavnagar anchorage area, where ships slated for recycling undergo inspection by customs and other port authorities before receiving clearance for beaching at the ship recycling yards.