‘No work’: India’s Alang, the world’s largest graveyard of ships, is dying

Al JazeeraEN 8 min read 100% complete by Anuj Behal,Suchak PatelDecember 15, 2025 at 06:20 AM

AI Summary

long article 8 min

Alang, India, the world's largest ship-breaking yard located in Gujarat, is experiencing a decline in activity. Established in the 1980s due to its favorable tidal patterns, Alang became the backbone of India's ship recycling industry, processing over 8,600 vessels and accounting for nearly 98% of India's and a third of the world's ship recycling volume. As ships reach the end of their operational life, they are sold to international cash buyers who then resell them to dismantling yards in South Asia, including Alang. However, the yard is now seeing fewer ships arriving for dismantling, impacting the livelihoods of workers who depend on the industry. The reduction in ship arrivals raises concerns about the future of Alang.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Arabian Sea 60% Gujarat 70% Narendra Modi 80% Alang ×280% India ×390%

Keywords

ship recycling 100% alang 100% ship-breaking yard 90% vessel dismantling 70% gujarat 60% maritime industry 60% cash buyers 50% light displacement tonnage 50% economic decline 40%