Port of Alang

At Alang, the vessel itself is the focus of the trade. The Alang-Sosiya recycling yards receive ships at the end of their working lives for dismantling, linking the shipping industry with the recovery of materials and equipment.

Steel and other recoverable components can return to use after a ship is taken apart. This gives recycling a commercial role beyond the waterfront: material from a retired vessel becomes an input for other businesses. It is a different stage of the maritime economy from the routine movement of cargo between ports.

Dismantling also brings responsibilities for worker safety, hazardous materials and waste. As the International Maritime Organization explains, the benefits of recovering a ship’s materials depend on how the recycling work is carried out.