Sustainable Shipping Initiative Study: Industry Must Now Scale Digital, Design and Workforce Action to Build on Progress in International Shipping News 14/05/2026 The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) has released a new study, Alang in Transition: From Compliance to Capability, that builds on the substantial progress made in ship recycling safety within the region under the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) and signals the next phase of action needed to safely scale the industry. With 115 of 128 operational plots in the Alang-Sosiya cluster in Gujarat now HKC compliant, and recovery rates approaching 98% of vessel mass, the study finds the foundations are in place for the sector to go further by combining digital solutions and processes, whole-lifecycle accountability starting at vessel design, and investing further in the continuity of accumulated workforce knowledge at recycling facilities. The research, supported by Lloyd’s Register, is grounded in a case study of Priya Blue Group’s HKC-compliant facility in Alang-Sosiya, examining day-to-day operations and what they reveal about the progress, scale and future direction of safe dismantling as vessel retirement volumes rise sharply over the coming decade. Ellie Besley-Gould, Chief Executive, Sustainable Shipping Initiative, said: “The progress made in HKC-compliant facilities is real and provides a strong foundation to build on. To meet the scale and complexity of vessel retirements coming in the next decade, the next phase of safety improvement will depend on three things working together: harnessing digital innovation at yard level, embedding end-of-life thinking into ship design and maintenance, and investing in the workforce knowledge that turns procedures into safe daily practice. An industry roadmap to 2050 would give the sector the framework it needs, with clear milestones for safety, digitisation and sustainable dismantling. The decisions taken now will shape the conditions facing recycling workers for decade