Gujarat’s Alang ship-breaking yard hits all-time low, hopes pinned on global
Final Farewell for MV True Confidence as Alang Awaits
The MV True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier, is set to be towed to Alang for dismantling after a tragic missile strike by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last year left the vessel beyond repair. An Indian buyer is poised to acquire the ship, which will soon mark its final journey to the renowned ship-breaking hub in Gujarat. However, Alang’s ship recycling industry faces significant challenges, with a steep decline in ship demolitions over the past decade.
Alang’s Ship-Breaking Industry in Decline
Once a bustling center for ship-breaking, Alang has seen a dramatic reduction in activity. The number of ship demolitions plummeted from a peak of 415 in the fiscal year 2011-12 to just 113 in 2024-25, trailing last year’s total of 125. Haresh Parmer, secretary of the Ship Recycling Industries Association (India), notes that the capacity utilization across Alang’s 131 scrapyards has dropped to a mere 25%. This downturn is evident in the local second-hand market, where shopkeepers have begun stocking imported Chinese goods to compensate for the dwindling supply of salvaged maritime items.
Visitors to Alang can explore a vibrant marketplace filled with salvaged goods, but access to the scrapyards is restricted. Inside, at least six ships are currently being dismantled, while others await their turn. The beaching of a ship is a significant event in Alang, marked by the date it touches shore, but such occasions have become increasingly rare. As the industry grapples with these challenges, the future of Alang’s ship-breaking legacy hangs in the balance.
Second-Hand Bazaar: A Changing Landscape
Alang’s second-hand bazaar, a vital component of its ₹10,000 crore ship recycling industry, employs around 15,000 workers and supports an additional 150,000 through ancillary trades. The marketplace, stretching 10 kilometers along the road to the scrapyards, is filled with salvaged treasures, from American treadmills to Japanese projectors. However, as the number of ships being dismantled declines, shopkeepers are diversifying their inventory with new items to stay afloat.
Akash Bhai, manager of Maruti Enterprise, explains that his shop now features brand-new furniture alongside salvaged goods. Similarly, Laxmi Narayan Seconds offers a variety of wine glasses and crockery, some of which are salvaged from cruise liners. The shopkeepers emphasize transparency, ensuring customers know the origins of their purchases. Despite the challenges, there remains a flicker of hope among stakeholders in Alang’s ship-breaking community, as they anticipate a potential global recycling boom driven by stricter environmental regulations. With over 15,000 ships expected to be recycled between 2023 and 2032, the industry may yet find a path to recovery.
