Gujarat: India’s Maritime Gateway Gears Up for a Greener Future with Focus on Ship Recycling: Vehicle Scrapping and Maritime Heritage
Gandhinagar, August 7, 2025 — Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, on Wednesday hailed Gujarat as India’s “business gateway” and a “global maritime destination,” highlighting the state’s pivotal role in the country’s maritime and coastal economy. Speaking at the International Conference on Green Ship Recycling and Vehicle Scrapping in Gandhinagar, he emphasised Gujarat’s remarkable contribution to India’s cargo movement and its pioneering policies in the port sector.
“Gujarat, with its 1,600 km long coastline, handles over 40% of India’s cargo throughput and contributes 18% of the total coastal cargo transportation. It was the first state to privatise port operations and has emerged as the flag bearer of India’s maritime success,” said Shri Sonowal.
Alang Shipyard: Expansion on the Horizon
A key announcement during the conference was the planned doubling of the capacity of the Alang-Sosiya Ship Recycling Yard, the largest ship-breaking yard in the world. The expansion is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, spur industrial growth, and significantly contribute to Gujarat’s and India’s economic prosperity.
“India is a global leader in ship recycling. With enhanced capacity and upgraded green compliance standards, Alang will emerge as the global hub for sustainable and environmentally responsible ship recycling,” Sonowal said.
He stressed that India is aligning its maritime practices with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), and the doubling of Alang’s capacity marks a significant step in this direction.
Sagarmala Programme: Maritime Infrastructure Surge
Shri Sonowal also shed light on the extensive development under the Sagarmala Programme, which has infused fresh momentum into Gujarat’s maritime landscape. Currently, Gujarat is host to 74 Sagarmala projects with a combined value of ₹57,000 crore.
Out of these, 15 projects worth ₹9,000 crore have already been completed, 33 projects worth over ₹25,000 crore are under implementation, and 26 more projects worth ₹22,700 crore are in the development pipeline. These projects span port modernisation, road and rail connectivity, cruise tourism, RO-RO and passenger jetties, fisheries, coastal infrastructure, and skill development.
“These investments are strengthening Gujarat’s position as a logistics and industrial powerhouse, opening up coastal communities to development and opportunity,” Shri Sonowal added.
Gujarat CM Pitches for Green Ship Recycling
Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel, echoed the Minister’s sentiments and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to becoming a global centre for green ship recycling. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat is progressing rapidly through port-led development. Our focus is now on making Gujarat the hub for green recycling,” he said.
Highlighting the Alang yard’s legacy and its robust ecosystem for ship breaking, the Chief Minister emphasised its emerging capability in vehicle scrapping as well. “Just as Gujarat dominates ship recycling, it is also set to lead in the green transformation of this sector, including vehicle scrapping,” he noted.
He added that Gujarat is aligning with the national Vehicle Scrapping Policy and will leverage Alang’s facilities to emerge as a vital player in this field.
Spotlight on Green Practices and EU Collaboration
The International Conference on Green Ship Recycling and Vehicle Scrapping brought together stakeholders from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, international shipping lines, ship owners, recyclers, and policymakers. The event served as a platform to discuss India’s compliance with the HKC and the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EUSRR).
Two sessions were held during the conference:
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Session One focused on the current scenario of India’s ship recycling industry, highlighting regulatory frameworks like the Ship Recycling Act and the role of the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB).
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Session Two showcased the Vehicle Scrapping Policy and how Alang’s infrastructure and expertise can be leveraged to transform it into a national hub for end-of-life vehicle recycling.
The conference also explored partnerships with EU nations to attract vessels from Europe to Alang, in light of rising global awareness around environmentally sound recycling practices.
MK Das: Conference Will Put Alang on Global Map
MK Das, Additional Chief Secretary of Ports and Transport Department, Government of Gujarat, underscored the strategic relevance of the conference in elevating Alang’s global stature. “This platform will highlight Alang’s evolution as a leader in sustainable ship recycling. Our focus is on integrating ship and vehicle recycling to create economic and environmental value,” he said.
Das emphasised the environmental compliance measures already in place at Alang and noted the potential synergies between the ship and vehicle scrapping industries in terms of labour, logistics, and waste management systems.
Lothal Maritime Heritage Complex: Reviving Ancient Maritime Glory
In a related development, Shri Sonowal visited the site of the proposed National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) near Lothal, Gujarat — an ambitious ₹3,500 crore project under the Sagarmala initiative aimed at showcasing India’s maritime legacy.
“This will be India’s first-of-its-kind, world-class maritime museum. It will immortalize the glorious maritime history of India and serve as an international tourism destination,” Sonowal declared after reviewing the project’s progress.
Lothal Museum: A Journey Through Maritime Time
The NMHC will include life-size architectural representations of the ancient port city of Lothal, showcasing its lower town, citadel, marketplace, sanitation systems, and dockyards. A working model of Lothal’s dockyard and Harappan-era water management systems, as excavated in Dholavira, will also be on display.
Phase 1A of the museum comprises six major galleries developed by renowned architect Hafeez Contractor. Five galleries are already in the design phase:
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Gallery 1: Orientation and Oceanic Mythology
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Gallery 2: Harappans – The Pioneer Seafarers
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Gallery 3: Post-Harappan Trajectories and Climate Change
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Gallery 4: India’s Contact with the Greco-Roman World
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Gallery 5: Special Exhibitions
The sixth gallery, dedicated to the Emergence of the Indian Navy, is being designed in consultation with the Indian Navy.
The EPC work for NMHC Phase 1A has been awarded to Tata Projects Ltd., with the completion deadline set for March 2024.
Employment and Rural Upliftment
The Maritime Heritage Complex is also expected to significantly boost tourism, bringing socio-economic development to nearby villages like Saragwala and Utelia. The project is likely to generate numerous jobs in hospitality, tourism, heritage management, and cottage industries, advancing the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
With Gujarat taking bold steps towards green recycling and maritime heritage revival, the state is scripting a new chapter in India’s blue economy. From the transformation of Alang into a global green recycling hub to the resurrection of India’s ancient seafaring legacy through the Lothal museum, the twin strategies of industrial modernisation and cultural preservation are charting a forward-looking course.
“Gujarat is not just leading India’s maritime sector—it is setting global benchmarks,” concluded Shri Sonowal.
The International Conference on Green Ship Recycling and Vehicle Scrapping concludes with a scheduled field visit to the Alang ship-breaking yard on September 13, offering delegates a first-hand view of its operational excellence and green transformation.
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