Alang turns to ship-building

Hounded by declining business opportunities at the world’s largest shipbreaking yard, cut-throat competition from Bangladesh and Pakistani and pressure from environmental groups, Alang’s shipbreakers in India are now eyeing the shipbuilding trade.

A handful of ship-breakers have approached the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for land acquisition. H K Dash, vice-chairman and CEO of GMB, confirmed that the board had received a few inquiries on ship-building opportunities near the Alang coast. “As part of the new port policy, GMB is also promoting ship-building activities in the state and the board had already identified a site between Alang and Mithiviradi in Bhavnagar.