Alang: Where Ships Go to Die

How Alang in Gujarat became one of the world's largest shipbreaking yards, why steel recycling is valuable, and the safety and environmental concerns.

At Alang in Gujarat, old ships are beached and taken apart.

The scale

Alang is one of the world’s largest shipbreaking yards, alongside Chittagong in Bangladesh and Gadani in Pakistan. India handles a significant share of the world’s ship recycling.

Why ships are broken here

High tides and a gentle slope let ships be beached.
Cheap labour.
Demand for steel scrap for re-rolling mills.

The economics

A ship’s steel is sold as scrap.
Equipment, furniture and fittings are resold in local markets.
Buyers pay per tonne of the ship’s weight.

Concerns

Worker safety: accidents, falls and fires.
Toxic materials: asbestos, oils and heavy metals.
Pollution of beaches and sea.

Improvements

India passed the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 and joined the Hong Kong Convention, which entered into force in 2025.
Many Alang yards upgraded to meet international standards.

The second-hand market

Near Alang, roadside shops sell furniture, kitchen equipment and lifeboats taken from broken ships, a unique secondary market.

Thinking shipbreaking is just waste

It recycles valuable steel and equipment, though it must be done safely.

Key takeaways

Alang is one of the world's largest shipbreaking yards.
Tides, labour and scrap demand make it competitive.
Safety and pollution are serious concerns.
The 2019 Act and Hong Kong Convention raise standards.