Ship recycling

Over 16,000 ships could be recycled over the next decade, providing great potential for the circular economy. But it must be done the right way.

Breaking Better

More than 16,000 ships are expected to need recycling in the next decade. David Loosley, Secretary General & CEO, and Ashok Srinivasan, Regional Manager & Technical Advisor, travelled to Alang, India, to see how the industry is changing.

In Chapter 2 of Breaking Better, we follow ship steel into the furnace, but quickly discover that melting is only part of the story.

Much of what comes from the ships never reaches the furnace at all. Equipment is refurbished. Machinery is reused. And materials begin a second life long before they are ever melted down.

Watch the full length documentary

Why are 110 certified Indian ship recycling yards frozen out by Brussels?

The EU rules are failing to deliver real benefits where they are needed most, writes BIMCO Secretary General & CEO David Loosley. The article was published in TradeWinds.

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29 July 2026 BIMCO welcomes proposal to include Indian ship recycling yards on EU list

The EU Commission has launched a proposal to EU member states to add two Indian ship recycling facilities to its list of approved yards. If approved, this would mark the first time that Indian yards have been recognised under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR), representing a milestone for a region that recycles the majority of the world's end-of-life ships. We welcome the proposal as a positive step towards a more objective and performance-based approach to ship recycling.

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26 June 2025 Hong Kong Convention enters into force

Watch David Loosley, BIMCO's Secretary General and CEO, talk about our work on recycling, and the inconsistencies between the Hong Kong Convention and the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Shipment of Hazardous Waste.

Employment Injury Scheme for Ship Recycling

BIMCO and the International Labour Organization have launched a pilot Employment Injury Scheme to strengthen the protection and rights of workers at ship recycling yards in Bangladesh, the world’s biggest ship recycling nation.

Seafarer holding his helmet in front of a vessel

Ship Recycling Alliance

BIMCO has launched a Ship Recycling Alliance to help accelerate safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.

Group photo of people from BIMCO and the shipping industry in South Asia

BIMCO FILM Time for change

Over 16,000 ships could be recycled over the next decade, providing great potential for the circular economy. But it must be done the right way.

The Hong Kong Convention allows for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. We need ship owners to choose globally compliant yards.

Report - Capacity of South Asia Recycling Facilities

The report focuses on facilities in South Asia, particularly India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and highlights the significant changes in the industry since the late 1990s.

Download the report