India now has some “world class” demolition yards after rapid improvements made in recent years, a senior member of the New Zealand military has argued.

New Zealand last year scrapped the navy oiler HMNZS Endeavour at JRD Industries in Alang, becoming the first vessel believed to have been broken and recycled under the strict Basel waste export convention.

Chris Calvert, programme director for fleet disposals in the New Zealand Defence Force, told the TradeWinds Ship Recycling Forum today that the process was a baptism of fire.