Ships have a finite lifespan, usually not more than 20 years, often much less.  When a ship reaches the end of its economic life, there needs to be a place to recycle the steel, the other valuable metals and equipment.  In a perfect world this recycling would be done safely and cleanly. Unfortunately, this is far from a  perfect world.  Alang beach in India’s Gujarat province is one of the world’s biggest shipbreakers, which the Voice of America calls “an access-restricted, mafia-controlled funerary ground for hulking steel-container vessels marooned for demolition.”  The operations are both dirty and dangerous.  A 2004 documentary directed by Micheal Kot  on the shipbreakers of Alang, India is now available on-line.  Disturbing, but worth watching.

Shipbreakers

http://youtu.be/rSw1BihUO5Q