general cargo and container ships were the most predominantly
broken ships in Alang and their hull structural members happen to
be comparable. The internal structure of bulk carrier, general cargo
and container ships comprises of slender, deep and vertical compartments
(typically named as “vaults”). These compartments
were, more likely than not, constructed structure planar sheet
metal reinforced and structurally supported with welded angles,
struss-like structural elements. Therefore, owing to the similarity in
the hull structural members of these three types of vessels the
“typical process for recycling” of the bulk carriers, general cargo
ships and containers was articulated by tracking the six ships (one
ship at a time).
The complete recycling of a bulk carrier (ship code B1) weighing
24,295 LDT and physical dimensions of 290 m length, 47.5 mwidth
and 24.3 m depth (built in 1985 and dismantled in 2011) was
investigated by IIT Bombay team in Alang. In all 141 days were
required by the yard from beaching to complete recycling. During
the course of breaking of bulk carrier (ship code B1) the IIT Bombay
team made following observations.