Capt Prashant S Widge, Head of Responsible Ship Recycling at Maersk, becomes the only leader from the maritime industry to get recognised in EICBI’s #EuropeIndia40 initiative in 2021. Capt Widge has two decades of experience in the maritime, shipping, and logistics industry. For the past five years, he has been heading the responsible ship recycling programme at Maersk while creating relational integration opportunities through a win-win proposition that has led to the transformation of the Alang ship recycling industry in India.
The Denmark-headquartered company has been changing the way end-of-life vessels are recycled in India through a robust, responsible, and transparent ship recycling programme led by Capt Widge. The programme has been implemented at 6 yards in Alang where 14 vessels been responsibly recycled so far. As a part of the programme, it has also been ensured that the recycling is done with no serious safety or environmental incidents and Maersk has incentivised the building of over 1200-worker ILO-compliant dormitories. It was key to verify that the engaged workers earned the requisite minimum and overtime wages with insurance and retiral benefits, access to compensation, leave and holiday benefits, in line with the applicable legislation.
Maersk has also played an active role in the development of Alang’s hinterland where a mobile health unit (MHU) project aimed at addressing the health care gaps and a training project aimed at mitigating health risks through raising awareness were implemented. By developing strategic partnerships, Maersk has provided over 50,000 services at the MHU and skilled over 5,000 workers through the training programme.
“At Maersk, we have developed and implemented our own Responsible Ship Recycling Standard that goes beyond the most widely adopted Hong Kong Convention by taking into consideration the environment, labour and human rights as well as social aspects of integrity. I am truly humbled that our efforts in this area have led us to be recognised by EICBI and it only encourages us further to strengthen our efforts in this regard,” says Capt Widge.
The EICBI is building a bridge that strengthens the EU – India and UK – India relations by identifying next generation of young leaders. EICBI provides these leaders an opportunity to present themselves on platforms that will influence and promote trade relations as well as policy making across the EU, UK and Indian geographies.
By bringing different stakeholders such as political leaders, business executives, civil society leaders, bureaucrats amongst others, on a common dais, EICBI is promoting thought leadership to cross paths across sectors and functions and bring out the best for the societies.
“EuropeIndia40 list, the most authoritative list of young leaders who are playing a key role in promoting EU India relations and UK India relations, which is in its 3rd year to discover Top 40 under 40 Europe India Leaders, covers the stories of 40 young leaders below the age of 40 every year and their contributions in promoting EU India relations and UK India relations. The 2021 Class of EuropeIndia40 list comprises of 22 women and 18 men and represents 19 different nationalities and we are proud to have Capt Widge as part of the 2021 Class. We are excited about the potential of our #EuropeIndia40 leaders in playing a leading role in building a stronger #EuIndia and #UKIndia relations in the near future,” said Sujit S Nair, Chairman of Europe India Centre for Business & Industry after the event.
