Indian Ship Recycler Rejects NGO Allegations Over LNG Carrier Oil Spill at Alang Yard
Bhavnagar, July 10: Priya Blue Ship Green Recycling Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s leading ship recycling companies, has strongly denied allegations made by the NGO Shipbreaking Platform that it mishandled an oil spill involving the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Sohar at its Alang ship recycling facility in Gujarat.
The dispute follows an environmental incident that occurred on June 13 during the dismantling of the LNG carrier at Priya Blue’s yard in Alang-Sosiya. While environmental campaigners claim the spill exposed workers to hazardous conditions and caused widespread pollution, the company insists the incident was swiftly contained and managed in accordance with international environmental standards.
According to Priya Blue, exceptionally strong spring tides caused the vessel to surge and yaw unexpectedly, bringing it into contact with a nearby crane barge. The impact damaged a fuel oil tank, leading to the release of heavy fuel oil into the surrounding intertidal area.
The company said its emergency response team immediately activated its Oil Spill Contingency Plan, suspended nearby recycling operations, deployed trained personnel equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), installed containment booms and absorbent pads, and used pontoons to recover the leaked oil.
Priya Blue stated that approximately 63 tonnes of fuel oil were affected during the incident. Of this, around 32 tonnes were recovered directly through containment and transfer operations, while the remaining contamination was addressed using dispersants, shoreline clean-up measures and continued environmental monitoring. The company maintained that the site was subsequently restored under the supervision of regulatory authorities.
However, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform has challenged the company’s account, alleging that the spill spread well beyond the recycling yard due to tidal flows characteristic of the beaching method used in South Asian ship recycling.
The NGO claims satellite imagery taken a day after the incident showed oil extending beyond Priya Blue’s plot. It also alleged that workers involved in the clean-up operation were seen standing barefoot in heavy fuel oil without adequate protective clothing or equipment, raising concerns over worker safety and environmental compliance.
The organisation has called for an independent investigation by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to determine the full extent of the spill and assess any environmental damage.
Priya Blue has dismissed these allegations, saying the NGO’s claims are inaccurate and do not reflect the actual response undertaken at the site. The company said all clean-up personnel were properly trained and equipped with PPE and that the response followed established emergency procedures.
The incident has attracted wider attention because Priya Blue is regarded as one of India’s most modern and environmentally compliant ship recycling facilities. The yard has received multiple international certifications and is among the Indian recycling yards seeking approval under the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR).
The controversy also comes at a crucial time for India’s ship recycling sector. Following the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, India is positioning itself as a global hub for sustainable ship recycling and has urged the European Union to recognise more Indian recycling facilities.
Industry representatives argue that isolated operational incidents should not overshadow the significant investments made by Indian yards in improving infrastructure, environmental safeguards and worker safety over the past decade. Environmental groups, however, contend that the latest spill highlights continuing risks associated with the beaching method of ship recycling and reinforces their call for stricter oversight.
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