New Delhi: India today notified its Directorate General of Shipping as the national authority for recycling of ships under a year-old law that governs this key environment polluting activity. The National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The notification was issued in this regard under Section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019, the Narendra Modi government said in an official statement issued by the Press Information Bureau.

“As an apex body, DG Shipping is authorised to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to ship recycling,” the statement said.

“DG Shipping will look after the sustainable development of the ship recycling industry, monitoring the compliance to environment-friendly norms and safety and health measures for the stakeholders working in the ship recycling industry.”

The notification said DG Shipping would be the final authority for the various approvals required by the ship-recycling yard owners and state governments.

Under Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO). DG Shipping is a representative of India in IMO and all the conventions of IMO are being enforced by DG Shipping.

The location of the National Authority of Ship Recycling office will benefit the ship recycling yard owners situated in Alang, Gujarat, which is home of Asia‘s largest ship breaking and ship recycling industry in the world.

NOTE: Defence.Capital is available on Telegram. Please click here to subscribe