Why South Asia Is the Final Destination for So Many Giant Ships

Why do so many retired ships end their lives on the shores of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan? An ocean-going ship can stop earning money at sea while still holding valuable steel, machinery and equipment. Across South Asia, entire industries grew around buying those vessels, dismantling them and finding customers for their pieces. From Alang in India to Chattogram in Bangladesh and Gadani in Pakistan, this video explores how coastal geography, demand for steel, second-hand markets and low operating costs helped build a global shipbreaking hub—and how workers and the environment have borne part of the cost. We also follow the ownership chain behind a ship’s final voyage and examine what new recycling rules mean for the people taking these vessels apart. Hidden Industrial Geography explores how particular places become essential to the industries the world depends on. #HiddenIndustrialGeography #Shipbreaking #ShipRecycling #SouthAsia #Bangladesh #Alang #Gadani #MaritimeIndustry #GlobalTrade #EconomicGeography