[Government Push to Expand Use of Recycled Ship Steel]
A high-level joint meeting was held between Union Ministers H D Kumaraswamy (Steel & Heavy Industries) and Sarbananda Sonowal (Ports, Shipping and Waterways) to review the usage of steel recovered from ship recycling, as part of efforts to strengthen India's circular economy and ship recycling leadership. The meeting brought together key stakeholders — Department of Science and Technology(DST), Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS), Gujarat Maritime Board and the Ship Recycling Industries Association(SRIA) to assess current regulations and identify new sectors where recycled ship steel can be used, aiming to boost its value and expand its market. The move is seen as a step toward supporting domestic steel manufacturing and reinforcing India's position as the world's top ship recycling hub with a strong focus on sustainability and long-term efficiency in the sector.