The delegation included Mr. Satoshi Sasaki, Deputy
Director, International Labour Organization (ILO); Mr. Fredrik Bjerke Abdelmaguid,
Consul / Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Norwegian Consulate General, Mumbai; Mr. Vidyadhar Rane,
General Secretary, ASSRGWA; and Mr.
Vikas Nalawade, Treasurer, ASSRGWA.
While discussions were anchored around the upcoming Norway-India Collaborative Workshop
on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)—scheduled for August
21–22 in Bhavnagar—they expanded into broader strategies shaping the future of
ship recycling in India.
Key priorities outlined included: Implementing the Hong Kong Convention in sync with ISO
standards; Modernizing Alang’s infrastructure and integrating advanced
Occupational Health & Safety frameworks; Leveraging the Ferrous Scrap
Development Fund (FSDF) for facility upgrades and workforce welfare; Enhancing
technical safety, life-saving apparatus availability, and structured worker
training; Shifting from commercial-centric to responsible, safe recycling
practices; Drafting a five-year roadmap balancing environmental goals with
worker well-being; Establishing global-standard SOPs for operational excellence
and Setting up the Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC) in collaboration with Ganpat
University
The meeting reaffirmed
India’s commitment to building a ship recycling industry that is green,
compliant, safe, and globally respected, setting benchmarks in both
environmental stewardship and human-centric operations.