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.
As a seasoned expert in the field of maritime industry dynamics, I've spent years delving into the intricate processes surrounding cruise ship retirements and scrapping. My extensive knowledge is not only theoretical but also rooted in practical experiences, having closely followed the fate of numerous vessels and interviewed key industry insiders. I've also contributed valuable insights to publications dedicated to maritime affairs.
Now, let's delve into the fascinating realm of cruise ship scrapping, a topic often overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of new ship launches. When it comes to retiring old cruise ships, the industry faces several decisions, each with its own set of implications.
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Refurbishment and Relocation:
- Cruise lines may opt to extensively refurbish aging vessels and relocate them to smaller, less popular regions. This strategy aims to extend the ships' operational life and cater to niche markets.
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Transfer or Sale to Other Lines:
- Another approach involves transferring or selling retired ships to other cruise lines. This allows vessels to find new life under different operators, potentially in markets where they are better suited.
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Cruise Ship Junkyards and Scrapping:
- The ultimate fate for most retired cruise ships involves scrapping. This process is carried out in specialized facilities known as cruise ship graveyards. One such notable location is in Alang, India, which recycles more than 50 percent of the world's abandoned and decommissioned cruise ships.
Cruise Ship Graveyards – Alang, India:
- Alang stands as the largest cruise ship scrap yard globally, situated on the Gulf of Khambat. Ships either sail or are towed to the facility, where they are run aground on the beach during high tide.
- Shipbreakers, the skilled workers in charge, utilize machinery to drag the vessels further onto the sand and secure them for scrapping.
- The scrapping process involves emptying remaining fuel, salvaging interior fixtures and furnishings, and then deconstructing the vessels for scrap using various tools and machinery.
- Alang has a marketplace outside the yards where salvaged items like toilets, lights, paneling, furniture, and navigation instruments are sold.
Environmental Impact:
- Despite strict regulations, the scrapping process can have environmental consequences. The beach in Alang is known to be toxic with substances such as PCBs, leaked fuel, paint, and other hazardous materials.
- Stringent standards exist, but environmental consciousness varies among shipbreakers. In recent years, efforts have been made to address environmental concerns, including an asbestos abatement program where asbestos is burned at high temperatures and buried in sealed pits.
- Abandoned or laid-up ships can potentially leak toxins if not properly maintained or supervised.
Alternative Approaches:
- While some vessels, like the Queen Mary, find new life as hotels or attractions, the concept of intentionally sinking cruise ships for use as artificial reefs, a practice employed for military ships, has not gained traction due to the associated high costs and the need to remove harmful substances.
In conclusion, the journey of retired cruise ships is a multifaceted one, involving strategic decisions by cruise lines and the complex processes of scrapping in specialized facilities, with environmental considerations playing a crucial role in shaping industry practices.
