cruise ship scrap yard india

Cruise ship graveyards: Where do abandoned ships go to die?

Have you been forced to say goodbye to your favorite cruise ship recently? Thanks to the effects of the COVID-19 cruise industry shutdown, several cruise lines sold off some of their oldest hardware in an effort to eliminate costly upkeep on vessels that had been in service for decades.

A lucky few vessels were purchased by other operators, but most were sent to cruise graveyards after they were sold for scrap.

What exactly does that mean, though? Where do cruise ships go to die, and what happens to those abandoned cruise ships when they get there?

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Cruise ship graveyards

Decommissioned ships are almost always sent to one of two scrapyards. The largest is Alang, located in India's Gulf of Khambhat, which recycles more than half of the world's decommissioned cruise ships. The second largest is Aliaga in Turkey.

When vessels arrive at the graveyard — usually under their own power but sometimes with the aid of tugs if their engines are no longer operational — they run aground on the beach.

Workers called shipbreakers then use machinery to haul them farther up onto the sand so they can begin disassembling them.

The tear-down process for abandoned ships

"At both places, ships are run up onto the shore and gradually cut down," Peter Knego, a journalist and ocean liner historian who runs the YouTube channel Peter Knego's MidShipCinema , told TPG.

"In Alang, this is largely done by cutting huge chunks of structure and letting them drop onto the embankment, then cutting those parts into smaller, plate-sized pieces that can be trucked off to the steel mills. In Aliaga, the cut structure is removed with large cranes, then further cut down on shore."

Knego added that tides play a large role, too. "In Alang, [beaching] is usually done during high tide to get the ship as far up as possible, then when the tide recedes, workers walk out to the ship and do their work. In Aliaga, workers are transferred to the ship via cranes with cage-like baskets, and in Alang, the workers climb on board via rope or ... ladders."

The tear-down process is arduous at first, as it involves removing leftover fuel and stripping the ships of any furnishings and fixtures — even toilets — that can be salvaged and sold. Once deconstruction is fully underway, shipbreakers can take a vessel down to just its hull with shocking speed, with scrap metal being sold or recycled.

Environmental concerns

There are also strict environmental precautions that must be taken to avoid the leaking of fuel and other toxic chemicals that could pollute the water and cause harm to marine life. Although scrapyards attempt to follow local regulations, there's still quite a bit of contamination that can happen throughout the scrapping lifecycle.

"Asbestos, which was largely banned in the '80s, was once the greatest concern," Knego said, when asked about the environmental implications of scrapping cruise ships. "But now most ships that are being scrapped are past the asbestos era. [Carcinogenic compounds called polychlorinated biphenyls], oil, fuel remnants, paint and other foulants are still on board most ships, and those can wreak havoc if not disposed of properly. And, of course, plastics ... create toxic fumes when burnt and [present] other issues [when] broken down (or not) in landfills."

Bottom line

If you've recently lost your favorite vessel to the shipbreakers and you're feeling nostalgic, you can ease the blow in a few ways.

Book a sailing on a sister ship that's still sailing, peruse old photos to reminisce or check eBay from time to time to see if anyone is selling memorabilia.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
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• Carnival Tropicale ship (Ocean Dream) arrives in Alang, India to...

Carnival Tropicale ship (Ocean Dream) arrives in Alang, India to be scrapped

The first newbuild ship for CCL-Carnival Cruise Lines (launched in 1981) ended her 39-year career. Introduced in mid-January 1982 as Carnival Tropicale , on January 1, 2021, the industry's pioneering liner was beached at India's Alang Shipbreaking Yard .

Tropicale entered service sailing from Miami  to the Caribbean, but also became a pioneer for the company sailing to Alaska and Mexico and later being homeported in New Orleans (Port NOLA, Louisiana) and Tampa Florida . As a modern cruise ship, she featured the latest amenities and used bright colors in her decor that echoed the fun ship marketing. Tropicale was also Carnival's first "Fun Ship" with a winged funnel shape (aka whale tail) that became one of CCL's signature vessel design elements.

The last decade of Tropicale's career saw the liner operating for the Japanese NGO Peace Boat under the name "Ocean Dream". Peace Boat operated world voyages and short cruises (all itineraries leaving roundtrip from Japan) until the pandemic hit in March 2020. Though Peace Boat had announced plans to expand the bareboat charter operations with a second ship in 2020 ( Pullmantur Zenith ), both contracts were terminated and the vessels were laid up. 

In September 2020, the company announced it was retiring Ocean Dream and when her world voyages resumed they would be operated on a newer, bigger cruise ship. Princess Cruises ’ Sun Princess was bought and renamed Pacific World to continue the world cruises of Peace Boat.

Ocean Dream (Carnival Tropicale) became a victim of the pandemic. Outdated by the industry's growth, the passenger liner was sold for scrap .

Decommissioned and Abandoned Cruise Ships: What Happens When They Retire to the Cruise Ship Graveyard?

In the cruise industry, we celebrate the birth of new vessels with press conferences and smashed bottles of Champagne, but rarely do we address what happens to retired cruise ships. If you've been wondering where your old favorite vessels disappeared to, here's what you need to know about cruise ship scrapping and graveyards.

What Happens to Old Cruise Ships?

As ships age, cruise lines have several choices, which include extensively refurbishing and relocating vessels to smaller, less popular regions; transferring or selling them to other lines; or sending them to a cruise ship junkyard for scrapping. Ultimately, all ships will be retired and scrapped, with the exception of a few beloved vessels, like Queen Mary, which are turned into hotels or attractions.

Cruise Ship Graveyards

The largest cruise ship scrap yard is in Alang, India, and it recycles more than 50 percent of the world's abandoned and decommissioned cruise ships.

"Aliaga in Turkey is a distant second," Peter Knego, journalist and ocean liner historian, told Cruise Critic. "There are also shipyards in China that scrap ships in a dry dock or alongside a berth versus on a beach."

At Alang, ships are either towed to the facility, which is located on the Gulf of Khambat, or sail there under their own power. When they arrive, vessels are run aground on the beach when the tide comes in. Shipbreakers -- the workers who dismantle the ships -- then use machinery to drag them further onto the sand and secure them.

"Most go under their own power if their engines still function," Knego said. "A few are towed, which presents more of a challenge since [workers] must ensure the tug doesn't get stuck, too. Plus tugs can't muster the speed and power to get the ships as far up the beach."

When this is complete, any remaining fuel is emptied, and interior fixtures, furnishings and other salvageable items are removed for resale before shipbreakers deconstruct the vessels for scrap using a variety of tools and machinery.

"They are stripped of all contents, then gradually cut down and dragged up the beach until the last keel plates are demolished," explained Knego, who features many photos of ships during the scrapping process on his website, Midship Century . "In Alang, there is a marketplace outside the yards where vendors offer up items like toilets, lights, paneling, furniture and navigation instruments for sale.

"Any fuel that can be removed is used to help in the scrapping process (powering winches), burned off or sold for use on other ships."

As for the environmental effects, Knego said they can be a problem, despite strict regulations.

"There are higher standards today, but the beach [in Alang] is still rather toxic with PCBs, leaked fuel, paint and other toxic substances. The amount varies from yard to yard and how environmentally conscious the specific breakers are.

"In recent years, there has been an asbestos abatement program where the asbestos is burned at extremely high temperatures and buried in sealed pits.

"Abandoned or laid-up ships tend to leak toxins after a while if there is no maintenance or supervision."

Although Knego said some military ships and small freighters have been purposefully sunk for use as artificial reefs, it's an expensive practice that requires vessels to be removed of all harmful substances. Because of that, it's a tactic that has not yet been adopted for cruise ships.

© 1995— 2024 , The Independent Traveler, Inc.

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Photos: Shipbreaking on the Beaches of Alang

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Workers pull a rope tied to a decommissioned oil rig to dismantle it at the Alang shipyard in the western state of Gujarat, India, May 29, 2018. Picture taken May 29, 2018. REUTERS/Amit Dave TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Reuters’ photographer Amit Dave has published a series of photos taken just this week at a shipbreaking yard in Alang, India, where many of the world’s ships continue to be sent at the end of their operational lives.

While some yards in Alang have upgraded their facilities to comply with global shipbreaking standards set out in the Hong Kong Convention, the shipbreaking industry in South Asia continues to be notorious for its lax safety oversight and frequent, often-fatal accidents.

According to the NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a whopping 543 of the 835 large ocean-going ships sold for scrap in 2017 were intentionally run ashore and dismantled by hand at shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan using the controversial beaching method despite the human and environmental risks.

In 2017, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform recorded at least 10 deaths at yards in Gadani, Pakistan , eight fatal accidents in Alang, and 15 deaths in Bangladeshi yards, where another 22 workers were seriously injured in accidents. 

Looking at these photos it’s easy to see why the practice is so controversial (and dangerous):

Report: 80% of Tonnage Sold for Scrap in 2017 Ended Up on South Asia’s Beaches

Related: Shipping’s Financiers Turning the Tide On Controversial Shipbreaking Practices

See Also: 152 Ships Broken Up on South Asia’s Beaches So Far in 2018

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13 Cruise Ships Have Been Sold For Scrapping So Far in 2022

• September 6, 2022

While most of the world’s cruise fleet has now resumed regular operations, several smaller and older cruise ships continue to be sold for scrap.

Over the first eight months of 2022, a total of 13 cruise vessels have been beached for scrapping at the three major ship breaking facilities.

For a complete market overview, see the new Secondhand Market Report.

Here’s a complete list of the cruise ships beached for scrapping this year:

Mira One (ex-Fuji Maru) Capacity: 326 Tonnage: 23,235 Year Built: 1989 Beaching Date: January 2022 Breaking Yard: Gadani, Pakistan

After several years out of service, the former Fuji Maru was sold for scrapping earlier this year.

The vessel was once operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Line, and sold to new owners in 2019; the 1989-built vessel is now being dismantled in Gadani, Pakistan.

Century Harmony Capacity: 2,040 Tonnage: 70,367 Year Built: 1994 Last Operator: Century Harmony Cruises (never entered service) Beaching Date: February 2022 Breaking Yard: Gadani, Pakistan

The former Carnival Fascination was beached for scrapping at the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard .

Operated by Carnival Cruise Line until 2020, the Fantasy-class vessel arrived at the ship dismantling facility in February.

Oriental Dragon Capacity: 882 Tonnage: 18,455 Year Built: 1972 Last Operator: Metropolis Cruise Co Beaching Date: February 2022 Breaking Yard: Gadani, Pakistan

Originally built for Royal Caribbean , the former Sun Viking was beached for scrapping earlier this year.

Most recently serving as a casino ship in Asia, the 1972-built vessel enjoyed a long career before arriving at the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in February.

Carnival Sensation Capacity: 2,040 Tonnage: 70,367 Year Built: 1993 Last Operator: Carnival Cruise Line Beaching Date: April 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

After being retired by Carnival Cruise Line earlier this year, the Carnival Sensation sailed directly to a ship breaking yard in Aliaga, Turkey.

The Fantasy-Class vessel was then beached for recycling in April , concluding a 30-year sailing career.

Delphin Capacity: 470 Tonnage: 16,214 Year Built: 1975 Last Operator: Passat Kreuzfahrten Beaching Date: April 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

A former soviet cruiseferry, the Delphin was sold for scrapping in March , as a result of an auction to settle debts of its former owners.

Laid-up in Croatia since 2015, the 1975-built vessel later headed to Turkey – where its currently being dismantled along with other veteran cruise ships.

Salamis Filoxenia Capacity: 400 Tonnage: 15,402 Year Built: 1975 Last Operator: Salamis Cruise Lines Beaching Date: April 2022 Breaking Yard: Gadani, Pakistan

Wrapping up a 47-year cruising career, the former Salamis Filoxenia arrived at the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in April.

Now being dismantled at the Pakistani recycling facility , the 400-guest vessel started its life as a Soviet cruise ferry before being converted into a full-time cruise ship in the 1980s.

SuperStar Libra Capacity: 1,494 Tonnage: 42,285 Year Built: 1988 Last Operator: Genting Hong Kong Beaching Date: May 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

After serving as a floating hotel in Germany for the past four years, the SuperStar Libra was beached for scrapping in May.

Formerly operated by Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises , the 1988-built vessel is being dismantled in Aliaga, Turkey.

Black Watch Capacity: 807 Tonnage: 28,613 Year Built: 1972 Last Operator: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Beaching Date: June 2022 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

Another classic cruise ship beached for scrapping in 2022, the Black Watch is currently being dismantled at Alang, India.

Last operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the 1972-built vessel had been out of service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marella Dream Capacity: 1,506 Tonnage: 55,000 Year Built: 1986 Last Operator: Marella Cruises Beaching Date: June 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

After two years of being laid up in Greece, the former Marella Dream was beached for recycling at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard .

Now being scrapped at the Turkish facility, the 55,000-ton vessel was retired by Marella Cruises in 2020 and spent the past two years anchored at the Elefsis Bay.

Star Pisces Capacity: 1,090 Tonnage: 40,053 Year Built: 1991 Last Operator: Star Cruises Beaching Date: July 2022 Breaking Yard: Alang, India

The Star Pisces became the first ship of the former Star Cruises fleet to be beached for scrapping .

After seeing its operator become insolvent earlier this year, the 1991-built vessel arrived in Alang for recycling in July.

Saga Pearl II Capacity: 446 Tonnage: 18,627 Year Built: 1981 Last Operator: Saga Cruises Beaching Date: July 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

Out of service since early 2019, the former Saga Pearl II started its dismantling process in July.

Being recycled in Turkey , the ship was built in 1981 and sailed for several operators, including Saga Cruises and TransOcean Tours.

Golden Iris Capacity: 1,000 Tonnage: 16,852 Year Built: 1977 Last Operator: Mano Cruises Beaching Date: July 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

Wrapping up a five-decade career, the Golden Iris was beached for scrapping in July .

Last operated by the Israel-based Mano Cruises, the 1977-built vessel is currently being dismantled at the Aliaga Ship Breaking Yard, in Turkey.

Horizon Capacity: 1,442 Tonnage: 47,000 Year Built: 1990 Last Operator: Pullmantur Cruceros Beaching Date: August 2022 Breaking Yard: Aliaga, Turkey

In late August, the Horizon became the latest ship to sail to a breaking yard. The 1990-built vessel will now be dismantled in Aliaga, Turkey.

With Pullmantur filing for insolvency in mid-2020, the Horizon spent the last two years anchored at the Elefsis Bay, in Greece. Built in the 1990s, the 47,000-ton ship originally debuted as Celebrity Cruises’ first newbuild .

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An expert explains: What happens to cruise ships when they’re retired, from makeovers to scrapyards

The most recent purge has been largely due to the shut down in the wake of covid, says cruise historian peter knego.

Each new cruise ship launch sets off a multi-stage celebration. From the steel cutting to the maiden voyage, the introduction of vessels that can cost up to $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) to build is meticulously planned.

Yet even the multi-million-dollar ventures will, sometimes after a few reincarnations, eventually be bound for a cruise ship graveyard. At least 18 cruise ships were scrapped in 2022.

Among those that were set to be sent to scrap was Global Dream II, a 9,000-passenger, 20-deck vessel with features including a waterpark and cinema, which never carried paying customers. Its sister ship, the Global Dream, was sold to Disney Cruise Line in November. Both ships had belonged to Genting Cruise Lines, which collapsed in 2022. Global Dream II may have been 2022’s standout case, but there are decades’ worth of cruise ship retirement stories to unearth.

Here, we explain the stages of a cruise ship’s demise, with the help of , a cruise historian and journalist whose YouTube channel MidShipCinema is dedicated to cruise.

How many ships are scrapped each year?

The figure can vary widely, according to Knego.

“Older ships tend to get eliminated when steel prices are on the rise, when economic conditions are poor for the second and third tier cruise lines operating older ships, after the implementation of more rigid safety regulations that some older ships no longer can meet and due to rising fuel costs or international crises such as the Covid-19,” he says.

“The most recent purge of ships has been largely due to the cruise industry shut down in the wake of Covid.”

Within the travel industry, cruise saw the starkest loss of business during the pandemic. In February 2020, the Covid outbreak on the Diamond Princess ship anchored in Japan was reported across the world. By the pandemic’s peak in 2020, global passenger numbers were down by more than 80 percent. In the UK, international cruises were banned for 16 months. Hong Kong, where Genting Hong Kong was based, welcomed back overseas cruise passengers on 18 January this year after a three-year shut down.

Knego adds: “Many lines just did not have the financing to continue to maintain inactive ships while others are struggling to get back into a margin of profitability as the public resumes its appetite for cruising.”

Where do ships go when they are scrapped?

Ships are taken to scrap yards, or ship recycling facilities. Aliağa in Turkey and India’s Alang ship breaking yard tend to gather passenger ships. Gadani Beach in Pakistan has also seen a surge in the number of passenger ships, Knego says. Other ships may end up in China or Bangladesh.

It can take hundreds of people to dismantle a cruise vessel, a job that comes with risk to workers and the local environment.

All the parts of a ship will be removed and sold in the local area – or, occasionally, to cruise enthusiasts. Knego’s YouTube channel details some of his own trips to shipyards.

“I made my seventh visit to Alang, India to rescue fittings and artwork from one of my very favourite ships,” he says in one video.

The ship was the Italian Winter 5, which started out as the Ausonia in 1957.

After valuable or collectable parts are removed during the scrapping process, the super structure of the ship is dismantled and its steel is melted down.

This process was carried out on a number of thousand-plus passenger ships in 2022. A report by Cruise Industry News lists Carnival Sensation (2,040 passengers, built in 1993), Carnival Ecstasy (2,040 passengers, built in 1991), Century Harmony, formerly known as Carnival Fascination (3,040 passengers, built 1994) and Marella dream (1,506 passengers, built 1986) among 18 ships scrapped in 2022

Are ships often repurposed for a new line?

Ships can go through “numerous names and owners throughout their careers while others have not, there is no set formula for this,” Knego says.

The number of times a ship is sold and renamed is more about timing and demand for steel, he explains.

“For instance, of the six Fantasy class ships Carnival Cruises has sold for scrapping these past few years, all but one kept their original names (save for the addition of the ‘Carnival’ prefix to their names that was added in 2008).

“In the meantime, other ships like the recently scrapped Karnika (the ex-Crown princess), A’Rosa Blu, Aida Blu, Ocean Village Two and Pacific Jewel have had multiple names and careers.”

How long are ships built to last?

This will depend on the quality of the ship’s construction. Knego mentions mechanics, issues such as wiring and plumbing, new safety regulations and economics among the factors influencing a ship’s lifespan.

He adds: “Most ships are expected to last between twenty and thirty years, but there are exceptions.”

Knego refers to a ship that was scrapped after a mere thirteen years of service due to mechanical problems and the global fuel crisis.

“Others like the Monterey of 1932 remained in active service for over sixty years due to solid construction and good maintenance by its original and subsequent owners,” he adds.

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What are Knego’s favourite stories among cruise ship makeovers and retirements?

Knego mentions Astoria, which has been laid up and for sale in Rotterdam.

The vessel was built in 1948 for Swedish American Lines transatlantic service as the Stockholm.

“It became famous for colliding with and sinking the Italian liner Andrea Doria in 1956. It was later sold to the East German government for use as the cruise ship Volkfreundschaft for Communist party members,” Knego says.

The ship has also been used as a floating hostel before it was completely rebuilt in Italy for use as a cruise ship in 1994.

“After numerous careers – it last sailed for CMV under charter as the Astoria – it was purchased by bitcoin entrepreneur Brock Pierce, who seems to have now lost interest in returning the ship to cruising service,” Knego adds.

He also singles out the Aurora. It was built in Germany in 1955 as the Wappen Von Hamburg.

“After numerous lives and careers, including a cameo as the Spectre Yacht in Dr. No and being one of the ships mentioned in The Love Boats book by former cruise director Jeraldine Saunders (which inspired the television series), it languished for decades before being bought by current owner Chris Willson off Craigslist.”

The ship is now being refurbished in Stockon, California , a task that has been documented on YouTube .

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10 Largest Ship Graveyards in the World

Where do all the ships go after their service life?

This frequently asked question, however, was offered a number of answers, suggesting a variety of ship disposal methods that have been used for a quite long time.

Ship disposal methods have come a long way as several approaches have been introduced and discontinued since the beginning of marine transportation. Most of the time, especially a half-century ago, the ships ended up in vast graveyards only to slowly decay in the years to come.

Also called a ship cemetery, these graveyards would generally have a large number of ships, boats, or hulls of scrapped vessels left to decay and rust.

Such graveyards were formed as a result of the deliberate disposal of the vessels, natural calamities and wars, among others. Thus, the phrase now refers to places that are created specifically for the purpose of a ship’s decomposition and also the oceanic parts where ships have been stranded without any chances of getting rescued because of natural occurrences.

In addition, the places where a number of vessels have been purposely scuttled together, and have been sunk during naval battles also known as ship graveyards.

Contrary to its name, these kinds of graveyards on the seabed are now home to rich marine life, becoming an excellent destination for scuba divers and marine enthusiast. Sometimes, even ship breaking yards, where the vessels are dismantled or scrapped for recycling their metal parts, are also termed as ship graveyards.

Biggest Shipyard In The World

Here is a list of such ten ship graveyards around the world. (Not according to any ranking system)

1. Bay of Nouadhibou

Located in Mauritania, this passage of water is regarded unequivocally across the world as being the world’s largest ship graveyard.

It is said that more than 300 vessels can be found in this graveyard, both in the water and on land. However, unlike the other mentioned ship graveyards, the Bay of Nouadhibou was used as a ship dumping ground mainly on account of the avarice of the Mauritian authorities who allowed uncensored dumping of ships in the Bay after receiving bribes.

Hundreds of ships were brought from all over the world to be disposed of in the area during 80’s following the nationalization of the country’s fishing industry. The popular wreck of the Bay of Nouadhibou ship graveyard is a reefer vessel named United Malika.

2. Aral Sea

The Aral Sea is a well-known graveyard of ships in the Eurasian country of Uzbekistan.

Once a thriving hive of fishing activity, the Aral Sea was reduced to a graveyard after the Soviet government decided to divert two rivers that fed the sea to irrigate the desert for cultivation, particularly of cotton.

The Aral Sea began to shrink in the 1960s and the body of water had split the lake into two separate bodies of water–the North and South Aral Seas- in 1987.

Following this, many ships were abandoned by its owners, leaving the fishing towns to become a ship graveyards.

3. Alang  Ship Breaking Yard

The world’s largest graveyard with respect to ship breaking in the Indian sub-continent, Alang in Gujarat, India, oversees ship dismantling for almost 50% of the world’s vessels.

Located on the Gulf of Khambat, over a hundred yards along the beach in Alang dismantles vessels in different types and sizes, including car ferries, ocean liners, container ships and large supertankers, among others.

According to reports, over 6,900 vessels have been dismantled in these yards during the last three decades. These ship-breaking yards in India have a capacity to break at least 450 ships annually and dismantled a record of 415 ships in 2011-12.

On the other hand, as a storage facility for a variety of toxic wastes, these yards have polluted the beach and destroyed the marine life in the area.

4. Chuuk Lagoon

Chuuk Lagoon, also known as Truk Lagoon, is one of the largest ship graveyards under the water. A sheltered body of water in the central Pacific, Chuuk Lagoon represents Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia.

The result of an allied attack on Japan’s naval base in the South Pacific during World War II, Chuuk Lagoon has over 60 warships on the sea floor. The area surrounded by the wreckage has now become an array of marine life due to the presence of hundreds of species.

5. Landévennec

Mainly used by the French Navy, the ship graveyard in Landévennec consists of military vessels. The graveyard is basically a water cove created by the Aulne River about the Pen Forn point near Landévennec and has a depth of about 10 metres.

The naval history of the region goes back to around 1840 when a naval station was first established there to house reserve fleet vessels.

Currently, a number of naval vessels belonged to the French Navy, including the Soviet-built Komet and the cruiser named Colbert, rest in Landévennec.

6. Gadaniship-breaking yard

Located near Karachi, Pakistan, the Gadanibreaking yard is another biggest ship graveyard in the world. Stretches up to 10kn along the coast, this massive ship-breaking yard consists of over 130 ship-breaking plots.

The Gadani Yard, which provides employment to around 6,000 people, has an annual capacity of dismantling up to 125 ships. According to an estimate, the yard dismantles up to 100 ships a year into metal sheets and other re-usable parts.

At the yard, ships are being broken after they are run aground on the beach and dragged further when the weight of the disposed of vessel lessens.

7. Skeleton Coast

Located in Namibia, the Skeleton Coast is a ship graveyard that features the ghostly remains of vessels resting there for years. The Skeleton Coast originates at the mouth of the River Ugab and extends up to the River Kunene located near the border of Angola.

Known as the Skeleton Coast National Park (named in the year 1973), the ship graveyard is regarded by many as the world’s largest graveyard of ships.

The occurrence of impenetrable fogs and storms has led to various ships being stranded causing it to become a vessel graveyard.

The name, Skeleton Coast, comes from the remains of the whale and seal bones that were littered in the coast by the whaling industry. In addition, the remains of stranded vessels in the coast also resulted in the popularity of the name.

8. Staten Island

The Staten Island graveyard in the United States is a well-known graveyard for tugs and barges. The most important feature of the Staten Island graveyard is that some of the tugs and boats’ salvage rest here belong to the 20 th  century and it forms one of the most sought-after places for scuba-divers.

Founded by John J. Witte in the 1930s, this scrapyard has been recognised as an official dumping place for tugboats, barges and ferries in the US.

Other notable names of Staten Island graveyard include the Witte Marine Scrap Yard, the Tugboat Graveyard, the Arthur Kill Boat Yard, and the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Processing Facility.

9. Bikini Atoll

Located in the Marshall Islands, the Bikini Atoll is known for the naval vessels resting in its lagoons. The Bikini Atoll was a location of the United States’ nuclear testing programme, which saw the sinking of 90 vessels between 1946 and 1958.

The ships used for testing in the seven test sites in the Bikini Atoll region include USS Pennsylvania, USS New York, USS Saratoga and USS Arkansas. Officially designated a ship graveyard by the US Navy, the Bikini Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site now.

A very popular destination for researchers and scuba-divers, it has been recently found out that the coral reefs of the Atoll which had been completely destructed during the war-time are showing signs of re-growth and resurgence.

10. Olenya Bay

Olenya Bay, located on the Kola Peninsula in Russia, is home to the historic Soviet submarine graveyard. As an active military base during the Cold War, the bay witnessed the disposal of the submarines those completed their military duty.

The subs that are resting in the Olenya Bay’s cemetery date back to the 1970s, during when the Russian shipyards were struggling to meet the Navy’s requirements and didn’t have resources to recycle the old underwater vessels.

However, many submarines disposed of in the Bay were dismantled and recycled later, especially during the 1990s.

Ship graveyards in recent times have come under the scrutiny of environmentalists and preservationists of the oceanic ecosystem and ecology.

Organisations like the Greenpeace are making huge efforts to make people aware of the repercussions of such ship graveyards. In today’s times, it needs to be noted that many shipping companies and government authorities make sure that the dismantling of a ship happens in dry docks.

However, those ships which are not disposed of in dry docks still do become a part of the ship graveyard chain. In order to protect the marine ecosystem from degenerating further, it is important and highly imperative that the usage of ship graveyards is restricted and curtailed.

You may also like to read – Legal Issues And Arrest Of Scrap Ships Can Sour Deals For Indian Cash Buyers

Disclaimer:  The authors’ views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight.  Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendation on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

The article or images cannot be reproduced, copied, shared or used in any form without the permission of the author and Marine Insight. 

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Sinking Ships is just a pure waste of resources. It is not for our benefit but only the Governments. It is only cost cutting. We should really be recycling our metal. It will run out one day. Then what?

ship graveyards are also where empaverished people dismnantle and recycle ships by hand. A lot of the time children doing this hard labor.

Ship scrap company in India is Priyathi shipping after beaching the vessel they do not pay the salaries specially senior officers.

i want to buy the boats

One of the folks above says we should be breaking ships so the steel can be recycled rather than disposed of at sea. The world will not run out is steel anytime this century and even if it was the amount of steel included in manufacturing ships is insignificant. If anyone has serious and reasonably thought out concerns about ship breaking they should be concerned about the shear volume of hazardous that is “accidentally” released into the environment rather than disposed of in a safe manner

Where did Iron Bottom Sound fit in the list ? – around 200 ships from WW2

@Toby – Yes, thank you for mentioning it

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