Alang yard dismantles record ships in 2011-12

Ship breaking and recycling at Alang in Gujarat has registered highest number of ships coming for recycling during fiscal 2011-12, stated Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), regulator for non-major ports in the state.

Ship breaking yard at Alang, Asia's largest, has recorded highest number of 415 ships coming for breaking during fiscal ended March 31, 2012 with the 38.60 million tonnes of light ton displacement or LDT against 28.20 million tonnes LDT recorded in 2010-11, GMB informed in an official statement.

Giving details about the Alang Ship Recycling Yard, which is located on the coast of Bhavnagar district in Gujarat, GMB stated that the Yard also has some key infrastructure for Toxic Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) for treatment of hazardous and non hazardous waste.

According to an industry estimate, over 100 ship breaking companies are active in Alang and turnover of the industry is about Rs 10,000 crore per year.

GMB further informed that in spite of weak global economic condition during 2011-12, non-major ports in Gujarat have achieved a growth of 12.19 per cent in traffic. Traffic handled at these ports was 259 million tonnes during 2011-12, which higher from 231 million tonnes in 2010-11, a GMB statement said.

"With trigger mechanism, many achievements to its name, GMB shall continue striding towards betterment of port scenario of Gujarat continuing to add achievements to its name along the way," Pankaj Kumar, vice chairman and CEO, GMB. Traffic handling capacity at non-major ports has recorded 13.73 per cent growth rate from 284 million tonnes per annum to 323 million tonnes per annum in 2011-12, GMB informed.

"The traffic has increased in most of the ports like Bhavnagar, Okha, Bedi, Navlakhi, Magdalla/Hazira, Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej, Porbandar and Sikka by 179 per cent, 41.28 per cent, 28.42 per cent, 27.15 per cent, 16.51 per cent, 24.87 per cent, 18.46 per cent, 23.46 per cent, 26.83 per cent and 2.29 per cent respectively," the statement said.

GMB estimated that by the year 2015-16, GMB ports will have traffic handling capacity of more than 500 million tonnes per annum and of more than 1000 million tonnes by 2020.

Developmental work like Coal terminal for UMPP at Mundra, Second SPM and crude oil terminal at Mundra, Solid Cargo Terminal (II phase)at Dahej, SBM for export of crude at Bhogat created new capacities, is stated.

GMB is also in process to develop various port sub-sectors including new specialised greenfield ports, port mechanization, port services, shipbuilding and repairing, coastal shipping rail-road connectivity, port-based special economic zones, logistic parks and industrial parks, ferry services and bunkering maritime institutes.