Ship recycling, or green ship dismantling, is a necessary part of global shipping. Each year, hundreds of large vessels retire and must be dismantled in a way that protects marine ecosystems, reduces carbon emissions, and safeguards workers. When managed well, recycling supports a circular economy by reusing steel and equipment. When mismanaged, it pollutes oceans, harms communities, and exposes owners to legal risk.
The Deep Water Recovery site in British Columbia, Canada, illustrates what can go wrong when oversight and planning are weak.
Repeated toxic discharges of copper and lead reached levels thousands of times above permitted limits.
Pollution controls were inadequate and hazardous waste handling was poor.
Legal disputes dragged on for years, creating uncertainty and prolonging environmental damage.
This case shows that without strict controls and forward planning, ship recycling can create serious environmental and legal problems.
Alang in India presents a different outcome. Over the past decade, 112 of 131 operational yards have gained certification under the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC).
Together, these yards have an annual capacity of about 7 million gross tonnage, roughly 4.5 million light displacement tonnage. Investments in infrastructure, training, and third-party verification have produced measurable improvements in environmental performance and worker protection.
Effective recycling begins before a ship arrives at the yard. HKC-compliant facilities require a detailed Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) prepared while the vessel is still in service. The IHM identifies asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, and other substances.
Using the IHM, the yard prepares a Ship Recycling Plan that sequences the removal and containment of hazardous materials. This structured approach prevents the discovery of hidden hazards during dismantling and reduces the risk of accidental releases.
Certified yards in Alang operate on impermeable concrete or geomembrane floors equipped with closed drainage systems. All cutting and dismantling occur within these contained areas.
Oil, paint scrapings, wash water, and other liquids are captured and treated before discharge. This infrastructure prevents seepage into soil and stops contaminated water from entering the sea. It addresses one of the key failures at the Canadian site, where unsealed ground and tidal movement led to heavy-metal pollution.
Ship recycling is a labor intensive and involves hazards such as fire, confined spaces, and oil spills. HKC-certified yards incorporate safety standards into everyday operations.
Management systems align with ISO 45001.
Workers receive comprehensive training in firefighting, confined-space entry, oil spill response, and the correct use of protective gear.
Personal protective equipment is issued to every worker.
Identity cards and health insurance with family coverage are mandatory.
This formal system reduces accidents and ensures continuity of operations while protecting the workforce.
Compliance is verified through regular audits by classification societies including ClassNK and Lloyd’s Register, members of the International Association of Classification Societies. The Sustainable Ship and Offshore Recycling Program monitors waste management, incidents, and safety drills and maintains detailed records for at least five years.
Constant external scrutiny ensures that non-conformities are detected and corrected quickly. This contrasts with the Canadian case, where violations persisted and legal action took years.
Alang yards achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. About 75 percent of hull steel is reused through re-rolling instead of melting. Re-rolling saves about 58 percent of the energy required for primary steelmaking and avoids roughly 1.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of steel.
The yards produce about 4.5 million tons of re-rollable steel each year. In some years, this has supplied up to 4 percent of India’s total steel production. Even after accounting for towing emissions, recycling a Panamax bulker in Alang produces lower total carbon emissions than recycling in a European dry dock, where most steel is remelted. Equipment and fittings are resold and reused locally, keeping materials in circulation and supporting small businesses.
Hazardous waste such as asbestos is sealed, labeled, and transported to government-run treatment and disposal facilities a few kilometers inland. These facilities meet international standards for worker protection and environmental safety. This structured chain of custody prevents uncontrolled dumping.
Ship owners and financiers looking for responsible recycling options can draw on proven practices from Alang.
Key considerations when selecting a recycling yard:
Verify HKC certification.
Request independent audit records from classification societies.
Confirm the presence of impermeable flooring, closed drainage, and approved waste-disposal arrangements.
Review the yard’s training programs and worker health coverage.
Certified yards in India combine high capacity with competitive pricing and strong environmental and social performance. Choosing such facilities reduces exposure to regulatory penalties, litigation, and reputational damage.
The Deep Water Recovery case shows the consequences of weak oversight and poor hazardous-material management. Alang shows how investment, planning, and independent verification can achieve high environmental and social standards while delivering measurable carbon savings.
The method of ship recycling such as beaching, landing, slipway, alongside floating or dry dock does not determine environmental or social performance. What matters is how each yard manages the process.
Safe recycling relies on detailed planning, a verified Inventory of Hazardous Materials, engineered containment systems, worker training, and independent oversight. These elements determine whether a yard meets international standards and protects people and the environment.
Labeling recycling by method alone distracts from the real measure of quality. Focus should shift to the documented performance of individual facilities and their ability to meet or exceed the Hong Kong Convention.
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Dr. Anand M. Hiremath, Chief Sustainability Officer of GMS Leadership, is a Civil Engineer and holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) India. He has a diploma in industrial safety and is a qualified lead auditor for ISO 9k, 14k and 184.
Dr. Hiremath published the first practical handbook on ship recycling, entitled: 'The Green Handbook: A Practical Checklist to Monitor the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships' which highlights the procedures the GMS SSORP follows to help both Ship and Yard Owners recycle a vessel in an environmentally-friendly manner. Dr. Hiremath is the Course Director for the first-of-its-kind 14-week online course on Ship Recycling offered by Lloyd's Maritime Academy, London."
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